rod

/rɑd/

/rɒd/

Other forms: rods

A rod is a bar or a stick, like the curtain rods in your windows or the steel rods inside the structure of a building that help make it sturdy.

A rod can be a staff, like a walking stick, or a metal bar used in construction projects. In tarot card decks, rods are are a suit that's also known as "wands" or "batons." You fish with a rod too, a long flexible pole. Most parents today disagree with the old-fashioned saying, "Spare the rod and spoil the child," which basically means "your kid will be spoiled if you don't hit them with a stick now and then."

Definitions of rod

1. noun

   a long thin implement made of metal or wood
   types:

   baton, wand

   a thin tapered rod used by a conductor to lead an orchestra or choir

   baton

   a hollow metal rod that is wielded or twirled by a drum major or drum majorette

   connecting rod

   a rod that transmits motion (especially one that connects a rotating wheel to a reciprocating shaft)

   control rod

   a steel or aluminum rod that can be moved up or down to control the rate of the nuclear reaction

   fishing pole, fishing rod

   a rod of wood or steel or fiberglass that is used in fishing to extend the fishing line

   kickstand

   a swiveling metal rod attached to a bicycle or motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle; the rod lies horizontally when not in use but can be kicked into a vertical position as a support to hold the vehicle upright when it is not being ridden

   pole

   a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic

   ramrod

   a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm

   ramrod

   a rod used to clean the barrel of a firearm

   rotating shaft, shaft

   a revolving rod that transmits power or motion

   shaft

   a long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow)

   stair-rod

   a rod that holds a stair-carpet in the angle between two steps

   tie rod

   either of two rods that link the steering gear to the front wheels

   wand

   a rod used by a magician or water diviner

   axle

   a shaft on which a wheel rotates

   barge pole

   a long pole used to propel or guide a barge

   boom, microphone boom

   a pole carrying an overhead microphone projected over a film or tv set

   caber

   a heavy wooden pole (such as the trunk of a young fir) that is tossed as a test of strength (in the Highlands of northern Scotland)

   camshaft

   has cams attached to it

   clothes tree, coat stand, coat tree

   an upright pole with pegs or hooks on which to hang clothing

   crankshaft

   a rotating shaft driven by (or driving) a crank

   driveshaft

   a rotating shaft that transmits power from the engine to the point of application

   fly rod

   a long flexible fishing rod used in fly fishing

   mast

   any sturdy upright pole

   piston rod

   connecting rod that moves or is moved by a piston

   ski pole

   a pole with metal points used as an aid in skiing

   spar

   a stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging

   arbor, mandrel, mandril, spindle

   any of various rotating shafts that serve as axes for larger rotating parts

   spinning rod

   a fishing rod designed for casting a spinning lure

   stilt

   one of two stout poles with foot rests in the middle; used for walking high above the ground

   thill

   one of two shafts extending from the body of a cart or carriage on either side of the animal that pulls it

   transmission shaft

   rotating shaft that transmits rotary motion from the engine to the differential

   type of:

   implement

   instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
2. noun

   a linear measure of 16.5 feet
   synonyms: perch, pole

   type of:

   linear measure, linear unit

   a unit of measurement of length
3. noun

   a square rod of land
   synonyms: perch, pole

   type of:

   area unit, square measure

   a system of units used to measure areas
4. noun

   a visual receptor cell that is sensitive to dim light
   synonyms: retinal rod, rod cell

   type of:

   visual cell

   one of the cells of the retina that is sensitive to light
5. noun

   any rod-shaped bacterium
   types:

   streptobacillus

   any of various rod-shaped Gram-negative bacteria

   type of:

   bacteria, bacterium

   (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission; important as pathogens and for biochemical properties; taxonomy is difficult; often considered to be plants
6. noun

   a gangster's pistol
   synonyms: gat

   type of:

   handgun, pistol, shooting iron, side arm

   a firearm that is held and fired with one hand