rod (r d)n. 1. A thin straight piece or bar of material, such as metal or wood, often having a particular function or use, as: a. A fishing rod. b. A piston rod. c. An often expandable horizontal bar, especially of metal, used to suspend household items such as curtains or towels. d. A leveling rod. e. A lightning rod. f. A divining rod. g. A measuring stick. 2. A shoot or stem cut from or growing as part of a woody plant. 3. a. A stick or bundle of sticks or switches used to give punishment by whipping. b. Punishment; correction. 4. A scepter, staff, or wand symbolizing power or authority. 5. Power or dominion, especially of a tyrannical nature: "under the rod of a cruel slavery" (John Henry Newman). 6. Abbr. rd a. A linear measure equal to 5.5 yards or 16.5 feet (5.03 meters). Also called pole2. b. The square of this measure, equal to 30.25 square yards or 272.25 square feet (25.30 square meters). See Table at measurement. 7. Bible A line of family descent; a branch of a tribe. 8. Anatomy Any of various rod-shaped cells in the retina that respond to dim light. 9. Microbiology An elongated bacterium; a bacillus. 10. Slang A pistol or revolver. 11. A portion of the undercarriage of a train, especially the drawbar under a freight car. Often used in the plural: ride the rods. [Middle English rodd, from Old English.] |
rod
Noun
1. a thin straight pole made of wood or metal
2. a cane used to beat people as a punishment
3. short for fishing rod
4. a type of cell in the retina, sensitive to dim light [Old English rodd]
rodlike adj
| rod (rd) One of the rod-shaped cells in the retina of the eye of many vertebrate animals. Rods are more sensitive to light than cones and are responsible for the ability to see in dim light. However, rods are insensitive to red wavelengths of light and do not contribute greatly to the perception of color. Compare cone. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | rod - a long thin implement made of metal or wood 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 implement - instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end 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 |
| 2. | rod - any rod-shaped bacterium 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 streptobacillus - any of various rod-shaped Gram-negative bacteria | |
| 3. | rod - a linear measure of 16.5 feet Britain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom linear measure, linear unit - a unit of measurement of length yard, pace - a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride furlong - a unit of length equal to 220 yards | |
| 4. | rod - a square rod of land area unit, square measure - a system of units used to measure areas | |
| 5. | rod - a visual receptor cell that is sensitive to dim light retina - the innermost light-sensitive membrane covering the back wall of the eyeball; it is continuous with the optic nerve visual cell - one of the cells of the retina that is sensitive to light retinal purple, rhodopsin, visual purple - a red photopigment in the retinal rods of vertebrates; dissociates into retinene by light | |
| 6. | rod - a gangster's pistol |
rod
Translations
rod
n rod [rod]
a long thin stick or piece of wood, metal etc an iron rod; a fishing-rod; a measuring-rod. staaf, stok قَضيب، عَصا пръчка prut, drát, pryč stang; -stang; stav; -stav die Rute ράβδος, βέργα, καλάμι vara, barra varb, ritv میله؛ عصا tanko, vapa tige, baguette, canne, règle מוֹט छड़ šiba, prut pálca batangan stöng bacchetta, asta, canna 棒 막대, 장대 strypas, lazda makšķere batang staaf stang, kjepp pręt, kij vara vergea; tijă; undiţă; riglă прут udica; drôt, tyč palica, drog štap käpp, stång, spö ไม้เรียว; คันเบ็ด çubuk, sopa 杆(棒) прут, лозина چھڑی cái que; cái gậy 杆（棒）
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|