coax¹ / kōks/ • v. [tr.] [tr.] persuade (someone) gradually or by flattery to do something: the trainees were coaxed into doing hard, boring work. ∎  (coax something from/out of) use such persuasion to obtain something from: we coaxed money out of my father | fig. coaxing more speed from the car. ∎  manipulate (something) carefully into a particular shape or position: her lovely hair had been coaxed into ringlets.DERIVATIVES: coax·er n.coax·ing·ly adv.coax² / ˈkō-aks; kōˈaks/ inf. • n. coaxial cable.• adj. coaxial: coax connectors.

coax Short for coaxial cable.

coax †fool, take in; pet, fondle XVI; wheedle XVII. orig. ‘make a cokes (i.e. fool) of’; of unkn. orig.