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Definition of rod

rod

/rɑːd/
rod
Plural:rods
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rod Lexical Profile

rod Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A thin, straight piece of wood, metal, or other rigid material.

Example

"The concrete pillars were reinforced with thick steel rods."

2

A slender, flexible pole with a line and often a reel attached, used for catching fish.

Example

"He sat quietly by the edge of the lake, his rod cast out into the calm water."

3

A type of light-sensitive photoreceptor cell in the retina of the eye that provides side vision and the ability to see objects in dim light.

Example

"The retina contains millions of rods that help us navigate in low-light environments."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for rod

• Nearby Words

rockjumper
rockling
rocky mountains
rod
rodent
rodgersia
roe

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'rodd' (pole, club), of uncertain origin, but possibly related to Old Norse 'rudda' (club).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rod. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rod
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