Provoke
Pronunciation
Origin
From French provoquer, from Latin prÅvocÄre.
Full definition of provoke
Verb
- (transitive) to cause someone to become annoyed or angry.Don't provoke the dog; it may try to bite you.
- Bible, Eph. vi. 4Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath.
- (transitive) to bring about a reaction.
- J. BurroughsTo the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul.
- 2011, November 12, , International friendly: England 1-0 Spain, Spain were provoked into a response and Villa almost provided a swift equaliser when he rounded Hart but found the angle too acute and could only hit the side-netting.
- (obsolete) To appeal.