noun
rod
rod
noun
1
A straight, thin bar, stick, or pole made of wood, metal, or similar material.
"He used a metal rod to prop the window open."
2
A long, tapering pole used for fishing.
"She cast her fishing rod into the quiet river."
3
An old unit of length equal to about 5.5 yards (roughly 5 meters), once used in surveying and land measurement.
"The old deed measured the field boundary in rods."
4
(slang) A handgun.
"The detective in the film always carried a rod under his coat."
How to Use Rod
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thin straight bar or pole; also an old measurement unit, a fishing pole, or slang for a gun.
Common pairings
fishing rod
curtain rod
lightning rod
Word Forms
rodded past tense, rods plural, rods singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “rod”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He used a metal _____ to prop the window open.
Etymology
From Old English rodd or rodde, probably related to a Proto-Germanic word meaning "stick" or "club."