What does “spokes” mean in this context?





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As far as I know and have checked a few dictionaries and done some research, spoke is either a verb, past tense of speak, or a noun which has a few meanings such as the metal bars on a bicycle wheel; plus a few other meanings that are less frequently used. However none of them make sense in the following sentence from a Wikipedia article:




The Resolute Support Mission envisages the deployment of approximately
12,000 personnel from NATO and partner nations in Afghanistan with the
central hub at Kabul and Bagram Airfield supporting four spokes.




What does the word mean in the sentence above?










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  • 1





    You linked a definition from MW - please reread definition 1.b. and visualize a central hub with radiating spokes or logistical routes.

    – Davo
    5 hours ago


















1















As far as I know and have checked a few dictionaries and done some research, spoke is either a verb, past tense of speak, or a noun which has a few meanings such as the metal bars on a bicycle wheel; plus a few other meanings that are less frequently used. However none of them make sense in the following sentence from a Wikipedia article:




The Resolute Support Mission envisages the deployment of approximately
12,000 personnel from NATO and partner nations in Afghanistan with the
central hub at Kabul and Bagram Airfield supporting four spokes.




What does the word mean in the sentence above?










share|improve this question


















  • 1





    You linked a definition from MW - please reread definition 1.b. and visualize a central hub with radiating spokes or logistical routes.

    – Davo
    5 hours ago














1












1








1








As far as I know and have checked a few dictionaries and done some research, spoke is either a verb, past tense of speak, or a noun which has a few meanings such as the metal bars on a bicycle wheel; plus a few other meanings that are less frequently used. However none of them make sense in the following sentence from a Wikipedia article:




The Resolute Support Mission envisages the deployment of approximately
12,000 personnel from NATO and partner nations in Afghanistan with the
central hub at Kabul and Bagram Airfield supporting four spokes.




What does the word mean in the sentence above?










share|improve this question














As far as I know and have checked a few dictionaries and done some research, spoke is either a verb, past tense of speak, or a noun which has a few meanings such as the metal bars on a bicycle wheel; plus a few other meanings that are less frequently used. However none of them make sense in the following sentence from a Wikipedia article:




The Resolute Support Mission envisages the deployment of approximately
12,000 personnel from NATO and partner nations in Afghanistan with the
central hub at Kabul and Bagram Airfield supporting four spokes.




What does the word mean in the sentence above?







meaning meaning-in-context ambiguity






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asked 5 hours ago









NeekuNeeku

3,10142442




3,10142442








  • 1





    You linked a definition from MW - please reread definition 1.b. and visualize a central hub with radiating spokes or logistical routes.

    – Davo
    5 hours ago














  • 1





    You linked a definition from MW - please reread definition 1.b. and visualize a central hub with radiating spokes or logistical routes.

    – Davo
    5 hours ago








1




1





You linked a definition from MW - please reread definition 1.b. and visualize a central hub with radiating spokes or logistical routes.

– Davo
5 hours ago





You linked a definition from MW - please reread definition 1.b. and visualize a central hub with radiating spokes or logistical routes.

– Davo
5 hours ago










2 Answers
2






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The definition of "metal bars on a bicycle wheel" is correct.



The article is using a wheel symbolically. Picture Kabul/Bagram Airfield centrally located (the bicycle hub) with spokes radiating out from the hub.






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  • 3





    Actually this goes back several thousand years earlier than bicycles. The classical spoked wagon/chariot wheel had a hub and perhaps 8 spokes going out to the rim.

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago



















2














The reference to the 'Airfield' in your sentence indicates that this is probably meant in the Airline Hub sense, which is a specific implementation of the spoke-hub distribution paradigm.



enter image description here



In the above diagram, Denver is a hub; Los Angeles is another hub. Both have spokes radiating from them.






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2














    The definition of "metal bars on a bicycle wheel" is correct.



    The article is using a wheel symbolically. Picture Kabul/Bagram Airfield centrally located (the bicycle hub) with spokes radiating out from the hub.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 3





      Actually this goes back several thousand years earlier than bicycles. The classical spoked wagon/chariot wheel had a hub and perhaps 8 spokes going out to the rim.

      – Hot Licks
      4 hours ago
















    2














    The definition of "metal bars on a bicycle wheel" is correct.



    The article is using a wheel symbolically. Picture Kabul/Bagram Airfield centrally located (the bicycle hub) with spokes radiating out from the hub.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 3





      Actually this goes back several thousand years earlier than bicycles. The classical spoked wagon/chariot wheel had a hub and perhaps 8 spokes going out to the rim.

      – Hot Licks
      4 hours ago














    2












    2








    2







    The definition of "metal bars on a bicycle wheel" is correct.



    The article is using a wheel symbolically. Picture Kabul/Bagram Airfield centrally located (the bicycle hub) with spokes radiating out from the hub.






    share|improve this answer













    The definition of "metal bars on a bicycle wheel" is correct.



    The article is using a wheel symbolically. Picture Kabul/Bagram Airfield centrally located (the bicycle hub) with spokes radiating out from the hub.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 5 hours ago









    drewhartdrewhart

    2,890717




    2,890717








    • 3





      Actually this goes back several thousand years earlier than bicycles. The classical spoked wagon/chariot wheel had a hub and perhaps 8 spokes going out to the rim.

      – Hot Licks
      4 hours ago














    • 3





      Actually this goes back several thousand years earlier than bicycles. The classical spoked wagon/chariot wheel had a hub and perhaps 8 spokes going out to the rim.

      – Hot Licks
      4 hours ago








    3




    3





    Actually this goes back several thousand years earlier than bicycles. The classical spoked wagon/chariot wheel had a hub and perhaps 8 spokes going out to the rim.

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago





    Actually this goes back several thousand years earlier than bicycles. The classical spoked wagon/chariot wheel had a hub and perhaps 8 spokes going out to the rim.

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago













    2














    The reference to the 'Airfield' in your sentence indicates that this is probably meant in the Airline Hub sense, which is a specific implementation of the spoke-hub distribution paradigm.



    enter image description here



    In the above diagram, Denver is a hub; Los Angeles is another hub. Both have spokes radiating from them.






    share|improve this answer




























      2














      The reference to the 'Airfield' in your sentence indicates that this is probably meant in the Airline Hub sense, which is a specific implementation of the spoke-hub distribution paradigm.



      enter image description here



      In the above diagram, Denver is a hub; Los Angeles is another hub. Both have spokes radiating from them.






      share|improve this answer


























        2












        2








        2







        The reference to the 'Airfield' in your sentence indicates that this is probably meant in the Airline Hub sense, which is a specific implementation of the spoke-hub distribution paradigm.



        enter image description here



        In the above diagram, Denver is a hub; Los Angeles is another hub. Both have spokes radiating from them.






        share|improve this answer













        The reference to the 'Airfield' in your sentence indicates that this is probably meant in the Airline Hub sense, which is a specific implementation of the spoke-hub distribution paradigm.



        enter image description here



        In the above diagram, Denver is a hub; Los Angeles is another hub. Both have spokes radiating from them.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 4 hours ago









        RogerRoger

        980210




        980210






























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