All 7 Uses of

coax
in
Pygmalion

But as to Higgins, the only distinction he makes between men and women is that when he is neither bullying nor exclaiming to the heavens against some featherweight cross, he coaxes women as a child coaxes its nurse when it wants to get anything out of her.†
Act 2

coaxes = tries to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuades

But as to Higgins, the only distinction he makes between men and women is that when he is neither bullying nor exclaiming to the heavens against some featherweight cross, he coaxes women as a child coaxes its nurse when it wants to get anything out of her.†
Act 2

[He goes to Mrs. Pearce and begins coaxing]†
Act 2

coaxing = trying to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuading

PICKERING [coaxing] Do stay with us, Eliza.†
Act 5

coaxing = trying to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuading

But I haven't forgot what you said a minute ago; and I won't be coaxed round as if I was a baby or a puppy.†
Act 5 *

coaxed = tried to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuaded

Put that along with her resentment of Higgins's domineering superiority, and her mistrust of his coaxing cleverness in getting round her and evading her wrath when he had gone too far with his impetuous bullying, and you will see that Eliza's instinct had good grounds for warning her not to marry her Pygmalion.†
Act 5

coaxing = trying to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuading

Definitions:

(1) (coax as in: coax her to join us)
try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gentle persuasion
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

Less commonly, coax is a short for coaxial cable (a type of electrical cable used to transmit data, the internet, video and voice communications). Coaxial cables have a conducting wire surrounded by an insulating layer surrounded by a shield. The insulating layer and shield surround a common axis--the conducting wire.

In classic literature, you may see coax used as a synonym for caress or fondle.