Main Entry: pole http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:popWin%28%27/cgi-bin/audio.pl?pole0001.wav=pole%27%29)
Pronunciation: 'pOl
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pAl stake, pole, from Latin palus stake; akin to Latin pangere to fix -- more at PACT (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/pact)
1 a : a long slender usually cylindrical object (as a length of wood) b : a shaft which extends from the front axle of a wagon between wheelhorses and by which the wagon is drawn : TONGUE (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/tongue) c : a long staff of wood, metal, or fiberglass used in the pole vault
2 a : a varying unit of length; especially : one measuring 16 1/2 feet (5.03 meters) b : a unit of area equal to a square rod (25.293 square meters)
3 : a tree with a breast-high diameter of from 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters)
4 : the inside front row position on the starting line for a race
Main Entry: poll http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:popWin%28%27/cgi-bin/audio.pl?poll0001.wav=poll%27%29)
Pronunciation: 'pOl
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English pol, polle, from Middle Low German
1 : HEAD (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/head)
2 a : the top or back of the head b : NAPE (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/nape)
3 : the broad or flat end of a striking tool (as a hammer)
4 a (1) : the casting or recording of the votes of a body of persons (2) : a counting of votes cast b : the place where votes are cast or recorded -- usually used in plural <at the polls> c : the period of time during which votes may be cast at an election d : the total number of votes recorded <a heavy poll>
5 a : a questioning or canvassing of persons selected at random or by quota to obtain information or opinions to be analyzed b : a record of the information so obtained