1 a long thin straight piece of wood or metal, especially one with the end placed in the ground, used as a support:
a tent / telegraph pole * a ski pole
seealsoBARGEPOLE, FLAGPOLE, TOTEMPOLE
2 either of the two points at the opposite ends of the line on which the earth or any other planet turns:
the North / South Pole
3 (physics) either of the two ends of a MAGNET, or the positive or negative points of an electric battery
4 either of two opposite or contrasting extremes:
Their opinions were at opposite poles of the the debate.
IDIOMS
be poles apart to be widely separated; to have no interests that you share:
Her own friends were poles apart from his.
up the pole (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) crazy
moreatTOUCHv.
verb [VN, V+adv./prep.] to move a boat by pushing on the bottom of a river, etc. with a pole
