• Provoke

    Pronunciation

    Origin

    From French provoquer, from Latin prōvocāre.

    Full definition of provoke

    Verb

    1. (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.
    2. (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.
    3. (obsolete) To appeal.

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