rod

noun20

1. •
   a straight bar or stick that is round in shape and far longer than it is wide

   • The circus strong man proved his strength by bending an iron rod, and then straightening it.
2. •
   A longitudinal pole used for forming part of a framework such as an awning or tent.
3. •
   A long slender usually tapering pole used for angling; fishing rod.

   • When I hooked a snake and not a fish, I got so scared I dropped my rod in the water.
4. •
   A stirring rod: a glass rod, typically about 6 inches to 1 foot long and ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ inch in diameter that can be used to stir liquids in flasks or beakers.
5. •
   A Cuisenaire rod.
6. •
   A drain rod, being a set of segmented rods with interlocking connectors designed to remain attached even under rotation in use.
7. •
   A straight bar that unites moving parts of a machine, for holding parts together as a connecting rod or for transferring power as a driveshaft.

   • The engine threw a rod, and then went to pieces before our eyes, springs and coils shooting in all directions.
8. •
   A coupling rod or connecting rod, which links the driving wheels of a steam locomotive, and some diesel shunters and early electric locomotives.
9. •
   A stick, pole, or bundle of switches or twigs (such as a birch), used for personal defense or to administer corporal punishment by whipping.

   • So was I brought up: they tell mee, that in all my youth, I never felt rod [translating verges] but twice, and that very lightly. — 1603
10. •
    An implement resembling and/or supplanting a rod (particularly a cane) that is used for corporal punishment, and metonymically called the rod, regardless of its actual shape and composition.

    • The judge imposed on the thief a sentence of fifteen strokes with the rod.
11. •
    A rod cell: a rod-shaped cell in the eye that is sensitive to light.

    • The rods are more sensitive than the cones, but do not discern color.
12. •
    (slang) A hot rod, an automobile or other passenger motor vehicle modified to run faster and often with exterior cosmetic alterations, especially one based originally on a pre-1940s model or (currently) denoting any older vehicle thus modified.
13. •
    A stick used to measure distance, by using its established length or task-specific temporary marks along its length, or by dint of specific graduated marks.

    • I notched a rod and used it to measure the length of rope to cut.
14. •
    An implement held vertically and viewed through an optical surveying instrument such as a transit, used to measure distance in land surveying and construction layout; an engineer's rod, surveyor's rod, surveying rod, leveling rod, ranging rod. The modern (US) engineer's or surveyor's rod commonly is eight or ten feet long and often designed to extend higher. In former times a surveyor's rod often was a single wooden pole or composed of multiple sectioned and socketed pieces, and besides serving as a sighting target was used to measure distance on the ground horizontally, hence for convenience was of one rod or pole in length, that is, 5+¹⁄₂ yards.
15. •
    Any of a number of long, slender microorganisms.

    • He applied a gram positive stain, looking for rods indicative of Listeria.
16. •
    (slang) A pistol; a gun.

    • One of them strode to his side and ran experienced fingers through his clothes. "No rod," he reported, "where's the jewelry?" — 1916
17. •
    (slang, vulgar) The penis.

    • [I'm gonna][…]throw some vaseline right in the crack a your ass, then I'm gonna shove my rod in your open hole and try to pacify your ornery soul. — 2004
18. •
    A rod-shaped object that appears in photographs or videos traveling at high speed, not seen by the person recording the event, often associated with extraterrestrial entities.

    • These cylindrical rods fly through the air at incredible speeds and can only be picked up by high-speed cameras. — 2000
19. •
    (no longer used) A unit of length equal to 1 pole, a perch, ¹⁄₄ chain, 5+¹⁄₂ yards, 16+¹⁄₂ feet, or exactly 5.0292 meters (these being all equivalent).

    • In one of the villages I saw the next summer a cow tethered by a rope six rods long[…]. — 1865
20. •
    (no longer used) A unit of area equal to a square rod, 30+¹⁄₄ square yards or ¹⁄₁₆₀ acre.

    • The house had a small yard of about six rods in size.

verb4

1. •
   To reinforce concrete with metal rods.
2. •
   To furnish with rods, especially lightning rods.
3. •
   (slang) To hot rod.

   • There were three clear sets, more than what you might expect at Heartbreak Point, given all the juvies rodding in and out of there with their girlfriends. — 2007
4. •
   (slang, vulgar) To penetrate sexually.

noun1

1. •
   (Singapore) Abbreviation of run-out date (“date on which one completes one's national service”).