Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - coax

~ v 1 to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do by talking to them in a kind, gentle, and patient way  (-Please, Vic, come with us,- Nancy coaxed. | coax sb into/out of doing (sth))  (We had to coax Alan into going to school. | coax sb to do sth)  (The bear coaxed its cubs to enter the water. | coax sb down/out/back etc)  (I managed to coax her round to my point of view.) 2 to make something such as a machine do something by dealing with it in a slow, patient, and careful way  (coax sth out of/from sth)  (He coaxed a fire out of some dry grass and twigs. | coax sth down/round/back etc)  (We coaxed the pennies out of the piggybank with the blade of a knife.) - coaxing n - coaxingly adv