rod

rod — noun

1. a thin, straight length of a hard material, for example wood or metal, that has

1.nounB1
Definition

a thin, straight length of a hard material, for example wood or metal, that has been made for a particular use such as hanging a curtain, catching fish, or giving support to plants.

Example

Wei held the fishing rod steady as a large trout pulled on the line.

fishing rod — common compound noun

The metal curtain rod was too long, so Reema cut it to fit the window.

curtain rod — compound noun for household item

Common collocations
  • fishing rod
  • curtain rod
  • metal rod
  • wooden rod
  • steel rod
  • lightning rod
Synonyms
  • pole

    generally thicker and longer than a rod; used for supporting structures (tent pole, flagpole)

  • bar

    shorter and thicker than a rod; often made of metal and used in machinery or as a barrier (steel bar, curtain bar)

  • stick

    a more general term for a piece of wood from a tree, less regular in shape and less finished than a rod

2. one of the two types of light-sensitive cells found in the retina, near the rear

2.nounC1
Definition

one of the two types of light-sensitive cells found in the retina, near the rear wall of the eyeball. Rods allow you to see in low light but cannot tell colours apart.

Example

Rods are far more sensitive to light than cones, which detect colour.

rods vs cones — the two types of photoreceptor cells

When Ari walks into a dark room, her rod cells slowly help her eyes adjust.

rod cells — compound noun in biology

Common collocations
  • rod cells
  • retinal rods
  • rods and cones
Antonyms
  • cone

    the other type of photoreceptor cell in the retina, responsible for colour vision in bright light

Usage Note

Usually used in the plural (rods). Rods are frequently contrasted with cones, the other photoreceptor type, which detect colour and work best in bright light.

3. a traditional unit of length equal to 5.03 metres (16.5 feet), used mainly in ol

3.nounC1
Definition

a traditional unit of length equal to 5.03 metres (16.5 feet), used mainly in older land measurement. A square rod equals roughly 25.3 square metres.

Example

The farmer's field measured forty rods from the barn to the river.

rod as a historical unit of land measurement

Old property records listed the land as twelve rods wide and thirty rods long.

Common collocations
  • square rod
  • rod of land
Synonyms
  • perch

    another name for the same unit, common in British historical land measurement

  • pole

    a third name for the same unit, used interchangeably in surveying contexts

Usage Note

This unit is now rare outside of historical documents and old property deeds. One rod equals 5.5 yards (16.5 feet). It is also known as a 'pole' or a 'perch'.

4. a crude and very offensive way to refer to a man's sexual organ. This term must

4.nounC2
Definition

a crude and very offensive way to refer to a man's sexual organ. This term must be avoided in all polite, professional, and formal settings.

Example

A character in the novel uses rod as crude slang for the penis.

extremely offensive vulgar slang — never use in polite contexts

Older players in the locker room made vulgar jokes using the word rod.

Usage Note

⚠️ STRONG WARNING: This is a highly offensive vulgar term. It is listed here only for recognition purposes. Learners should never use this word in conversation, writing, or any public setting. Even informal use can cause serious offence.

5. a thin stick or cane used in the past to hit someone, especially a child at scho

5.nounB2
Definition

a thin stick or cane used in the past to hit someone, especially a child at school or a prisoner, as a formal punishment.

Example

The headmaster struck disobedient boys with a wooden rod in the old school.

rod as an instrument of corporal punishment

After years of debate, use of the rod in schools was banned across the country.

Common collocations
  • wooden rod
  • use of the rod
  • spare the rod
Synonyms
  • cane

    a thin stick used in schools, especially in British English; more specific to educational punishment

  • switch

    a flexible stick cut from a tree or bush; less formal and less manufactured than a rod

Usage Note

This sense is now largely historical in most countries, where corporal punishment in schools and prisons has been banned. The proverb 'spare the rod, spoil the child' comes from the Bible and reflects older views on child discipline.

Idioms

make a rod for your own back

idiom

to do something now that is likely to cause problems or difficulty for yourself in the future.

By agreeing to do all the extra work alone, Kevin made a rod for his own back.

If you do not set clear rules now, you are making a rod for your own back later.

rule with a rod of iron

idiom

to control a group of people, an organization, or a family in a very strict and severe way.

The old headmaster ruled the school with a rod of iron for over thirty years.

Her father ruled the family with a rod of iron, allowing no disagreement at the dinner table.

a rod to beat somebody with

idiom

a fact, event, or piece of information that can be used to criticize, blame, or punish someone.

The politician's past mistakes became a rod for his opponents to beat him with during the election.

If you sign that contract, any small error could become a rod for the company to beat you with.

a rod/stick to beat somebody with

idiom

Something used to criticize or punish someone.

Mia's past mistake became a rod to beat her with.

The manager used the budget error as a stick to beat the team with.

Word family

  • rod-shaped
    adjectiveC1
  • rod-like
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A rod is a thin, straight piece of manufactured material such as metal or smooth wood, used for a defined purpose — catching fish (fishing rod), hanging items (curtain rod), or mechanical linkage. A pole is generally thicker, longer, and more often used for supporting large structures (tent pole, flagpole) or pushing a boat (punt pole). A stick is a broader, less precise term for any piece of wood broken from a tree, often irregular in shape and not necessarily manufactured. A bar is shorter and thicker than a rod, typically made of metal and used as a lever, barrier, or in machinery (crowbar, steel bar). A staff is a long walking stick associated with formal or ceremonial use (shepherd's staff, wizard's staff). Choosing among them depends on the object's thickness, degree of manufacturing, and specific function: you buy 'curtain rods' not 'curtain sticks', and a 'metal bar' is used to pry things open, while a 'metal rod' connects parts in a machine.

rod ↗pole ↗stick ↗bar ↗staff ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • fishing rod
  • curtain rod
  • lightning rod
  • rod iron

Phrases

  • rod and line
  • rods and cones

Prepositions

  • rod of
  • rod for

Etymology

Old EnglishOld NorseEnglish

The word rod comes from Old English 'rodd', meaning a straight, slender piece of wood. It is related to Old Norse 'rudda' meaning a club. For over a thousand years the word has referred to a thin, straight stick or bar. The measurement sense (about 5 metres) dates from Anglo-Saxon times, when actual rods were used as measuring tools. The sense of a punishment stick has deep roots in biblical language, especially the proverb 'spare the rod, spoil the child,' which helped keep this meaning alive through centuries of English usage.