rod
rod — noun
1. a thin, straight length of a hard material, for example wood or metal, that has
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.
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
A thin steel rod connects the pedals to the back wheel of the bicycle.
The gardener pushed a wooden rod into the soil to support the tomato plant.
After the storm, Maeve found a broken rod from the fence lying in the garden.
- 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
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.
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
The human retina contains about 120 million rods and roughly 6 million cones.
Nocturnal animals usually have far more rods than humans do.
- cone
the other type of photoreceptor cell in the retina, responsible for colour vision in bright light
用法筆記
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
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.
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.
Nineteenth-century surveyors used a rod, also called a pole or perch, to measure fields.
The surveyor told Yusuf that his garden plot measured one square rod, roughly twenty-five square metres.
用法筆記
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
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.
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.
Kevin was suspended for shouting a crude slang word for a man's private parts at the referee.
Teachers warn students that rod is a vulgar word not for classroom use.
用法筆記
⚠️ 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
a thin stick or cane used in the past to hit someone, especially a child at school or a prisoner, as a formal punishment.
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.
Historical records describe guards using a rod to punish minor offences in nineteenth-century prisons.
The proverb spare the rod and spoil the child reflects older beliefs about discipline.
用法筆記
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.