rod
gb/ɹˈɑd/ us/ɹˈɑd/
B1
English
~ 5100
rúd, horgászbot, pálcikasejt, pálcika, pálca, vessző, fasz, stukker, jogar
NOUN
B2
1
rúd
B1
Usage pattern:
a [material] rod
The curtain hangs from a metal rod above the window.
A függöny az ablak fölötti fémrúdról lóg.
Workers reinforced the concrete with steel rods.
A munkások acélrudakkal erősítették meg a betont.
He used a wooden rod to stir the thick mixture.
A thin rod connects the handle to the latch mechanism.
Learner examples
The lamp stands on a thin metal rod.
A lámpa egy vékony fémrúdon áll.
They put a curtain rod over the window.
Függönyrudat szereltek az ablak fölé.
He pushed the door open with a long rod.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "rod" with "road" in listening. "Rod" refers to a thing (a bar or stick), while "road" is a place where cars drive.
Meaning
thin straight bar or stick
Collocations
metal rod
|iron rod
|steel rod
|curtain rod
|measuring rod
|control rod
Synonyms
bar (A general word for a long solid piece of material; may be thicker or heavier than a rod.)
|
stick (Often a natural piece of wood from a tree; less regular and precise than a rod.)
Antonyms
sheet (Refers to a thin flat piece of material, contrasting with the long round shape of a rod.)
Themes
objects
|construction
|tools
|core_vocabulary
|work
Definition
A long, thin, straight piece of metal or wood used to hold, connect, or support things.
A long, thin, straight piece of solid material, typically metal or wood, often used as a support, tool, or component in a structure or device.
NOUN
B1
2
horgászbot
B1
Usage pattern:
to fish with a rod
He leaned his fishing rod against the tree while he baited the hook.
A horgászbotját a fának támasztotta, miközben felcsalizta a horgot.
She bought a new carbon-fiber rod for the weekend trip.
Új karbonszálas horgászbotot vett a hétvégi kirándulásra.
Several anglers stood along the river, their rods bending under the weight of the fish.
Always check your rod for damage before you cast.
Learner examples
He is fishing with a long rod.
Egy hosszú horgászbottal horgászik.
She carries her fishing rod to the lake.
A horgászbotját viszi a tóhoz.
I got a new rod and reel for my birthday.
Common mistake:
Learners may say "fishing stick" instead of "fishing rod". The natural collocation in English is "fishing rod" or "rod and reel".
Meaning
pole used for fishing
Collocations
fishing rod
|rod and reel
|cast the rod
|hold the rod
|carbon-fiber rod
Synonyms
fishing pole (Common informal term, especially in American English; refers to the same basic piece of fishing equipment.)
Antonyms
fishing net (A different type of fishing equipment that traps many fish at once instead of using a single line on a rod.)
Themes
leisure
|outdoors
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
A long pole with a line for catching fish.
A long, thin, flexible pole with a fishing line attached, used for catching fish.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
3
pálcikasejt
C1
pálcika
B2
Usage pattern:
[number] rods and [number] cones
In low light, the rods in your eyes become more active than the cones.
Gyenge fényben a szemedben lévő pálcikasejtek aktívabbá válnak, mint a csapok.
Rods are highly sensitive to dim light but do not detect color.
A pálcikasejtek rendkívül érzékenyek a gyenge fényre, de nem érzékelik a színeket.
Damage to the rods can cause problems with night vision.
The retina contains millions of rods and cones working together.
Learner examples
Rods in the eye help us see in the dark.
A szemünkben lévő pálcikák segítenek, hogy sötétben is lássunk.
Rods and cones are cells in the eye.
A pálcikák és a csapok a szemben található sejtek.
If rods are damaged, it is hard to see at night.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "rods and cones" are shapes only. In biology, they are names for different cells in the eye that help with vision.
Meaning
light-sensitive cell in the eye
Collocations
rods and cones
|rod cell
|retinal rods
|rod photoreceptors
Synonyms
rod cell (More specific technical term that clearly shows it is a type of cell.)
|
photoreceptor (A broader scientific term that includes both rods and cones, not just rods.)
Antonyms
cone (The other main type of photoreceptor cell in the eye, responsible for color and detailed vision, contrasting with rods.)
Themes
biology
|medicine
|science
|health
|body
Definition
A special cell in the back of the eye that helps you see in low light and in black and white.
A long, cylindrical photoreceptor cell in the retina of the eye that is sensitive to low light levels and is responsible for black-and-white vision.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
use the rod on [someone]
The teacher raised the rod, and the room fell silent.
A tanár felemelte a pálcát, és csend lett a teremben.
Older schools sometimes used the rod to control students.
Régebbi iskolákban néha pálcával fegyelmezték a diákokat.
The phrase "spare the rod" reflects a belief in strict physical discipline.
He remembered the sting of the rod from his childhood.
Learner examples
In the past, some teachers hit children with a rod.
Régen néhány tanár pálcával ütötte a gyerekeket.
Many people now think using a rod to punish children is wrong.
Ma már sokan helytelennek tartják, ha pálcával büntetik a gyerekeket.
The story talks about a father with a rod in his hand.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes interpret "rod" in the proverb "spare the rod" as any kind of object. It specifically refers to a stick used for physical punishment.
Meaning
stick used for punishment
Collocations
spare the rod
|the rod of discipline
|under the rod
|apply the rod
Synonyms
cane (Often used for a long, thin stick used to hit students or prisoners as punishment.)
|
switch (Especially in American English, a thin flexible stick used for whipping.)
Antonyms
reward (Represents positive reinforcement instead of punishment with a rod.)
Themes
punishment
|education
|history
|law
Definition
A thin stick used to hit someone as punishment, especially in the past.
A long, thin stick or switch used to strike a person or animal as a form of punishment, especially in older or literary contexts.
NOUN
C1
VULGAR
5
fasz
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s rod
The novel used explicit language, referring to his rod in several scenes.
That song’s lyrics are full of crude references to his rod.
This term is considered vulgar and is not suitable for polite conversation.
Learner examples
This word for "rod" is very rude and sexual.
Do not use this meaning of "rod" in polite talk.
In movies for adults, people may use the word "rod" for a man’s penis.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize how vulgar this meaning is and might repeat it from movies or music. It should be avoided in polite or professional situations.
Meaning
vulgar term for penis
Collocations
his rod
|hard rod
|suck his rod
|stroke his rod
Synonyms
dick (A very common vulgar term for a penis in everyday speech.)
|
cock (A strongly vulgar word for a penis, often used in sexual talk.)
Antonyms
vagina (Refers to the main female sex organ, contrasting with the male organ referred to by this slang term.)
Themes
sexuality
|body
|slang
|daily_life
Definition
A very rude slang word for a man’s sex organ (penis).
A crude slang term for a man’s penis.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
6
stukker
C1
Usage pattern:
carry a rod
In the old gangster movie, everyone seemed to be carrying a rod.
A régi gengszterfilmben úgy tűnt, mintha mindenki stukkert hordana magánál.
The detective asked if he was packing a rod that night.
A nyomozó megkérdezte, volt-e nála stukker azon az estén.
You don’t pull a rod in this town unless you’re ready to use it.
The dialogue used classic 1940s slang, calling the pistol a rod.
Learner examples
In some old films, criminals call a gun a rod.
Néhány régi filmben a bűnözők stukkernek hívják a pisztolyt.
He is packing a rod means he has a gun.
A „He is packing a rod” azt jelenti, hogy fegyver van nála.
This meaning of rod is slang and not used in formal speech.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this word in modern everyday speech. Today it sounds old-fashioned or like movie slang; "gun" is the normal word.
Meaning
slang term for handgun
Collocations
carry a rod
|pack a rod
|pull a rod
|he was holding a rod
Synonyms
gun (The standard, neutral term for a firearm.)
|
piece (Slang term for a gun, common in crime-related speech and media.)
Antonyms
unarmed (Describes someone without a weapon, the opposite of someone carrying a rod.)
Themes
crime
|weapons
|entertainment
|law
Definition
An old slang word for a gun, especially a small gun you carry.
A slang term, especially in older American usage, for a handgun carried as a weapon.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
7
rúd
C2
Usage pattern:
[number] rods long
The old map shows the field as twenty rods wide.
A régi térkép szerint a mező húsz rúd széles.
Land was once commonly measured in rods, chains, and furlongs.
A földet valaha gyakran rudakban, láncokban és furlongokban mérték.
The document specified a road width of six rods.
Surveyors rarely use rods today, preferring metric units.
Learner examples
A rod is an old way to measure length.
A rúd egy régi hosszmérték.
One rod is about five meters long.
Egy rúd körülbelül öt méter hosszú.
Today, people use meters instead of rods.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this is just the normal noun "rod" used for any length. Here it is a fixed measurement, like "meter" or "foot".
Meaning
old unit of length
Collocations
ten rods long
|measured in rods
|square rods
|rods and chains
Synonyms
perch (A historical term for the same unit of length as a rod.)
|
pole (Another old name for the same unit of length as a rod.)
Antonyms
meter (A modern metric unit of length that has replaced old units such as the rod in most uses.)
Themes
measurement
|science
|history
|time
Definition
An old measure of length, about 5.03 meters (16.5 feet).
An old unit of length equal to 5.5 yards, 16.5 feet, or about 5.03 meters, used mainly in surveying and historical texts.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
8
Usage pattern:
a rod of [quality]
The king raised his rod, and the crowd fell silent.
A király felemelte a jogarát, és a tömeg elcsendesedett.
In the psalm, the shepherd’s rod and staff are symbols of protection.
A zsoltárban a pásztor vesszeje és botja a védelem jelképei.
He ruled his kingdom with a rod of iron.
The high priest carried a sacred rod during the ceremony.
Learner examples
In the story, the ruler holds a rod in his hand.
A történetben az uralkodó jogart tart a kezében.
The rod in the poem shows power and control.
A versben a vessző a hatalmat és az uralmat jelképezi.
Some religious texts talk about a rod and a staff.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with a simple stick or bar. In this sense, the rod is mainly symbolic, showing power or rule.
Meaning
staff symbolizing authority or power
Collocations
rod of iron
|rod and staff
|royal rod
|the king’s rod
Synonyms
scepter (A decorated rod or staff used as a royal symbol of power.)
|
staff (A long stick carried for support or as a sign of office or authority.)
Antonyms
powerlessness (The lack of power or authority, opposite of what a symbolic rod represents.)
Themes
politics
|religion
|literature
Definition
A special stick or staff that shows a person has power or authority, often in stories or religious texts.
A staff or scepter carried as a symbol of power, authority, or rule, especially in religious or literary contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rod
IPA
GB/ɹˈɑd/
US/ɹˈɑd/
Syllables & stress
rod (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rod)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: rod
- Plural: rods
Word family
Expressions
fishing rod
1/fˈɪʃɪŋ ɹˈɑd/
fixed phrase
pole used for catching fish
A long pole with a line and hook, used to catch fish.
Examples
- He leaned his fishing rod against the pier while he tied a new hook.
- You’ll need a strong fishing rod if you want to catch big salmon.
- She forgot her fishing rod at home and had to rent one by the lake.
hot rod
1/hˈɑt ɹˈɑd/
fixed phrase
informal
high-powered modified car
An older car that has been changed to make it very fast and powerful, often for racing or showing.
Examples
- He spent every weekend working on his hot rod in the garage.
- The car show was full of classic hot rods from the 1950s.
- They raced their hot rods down the empty highway at night.
make a rod for your own back
1/mˈeɪk ə ɹˈɑd fɚ jˈʊɹ ˈoʊn bˈæk/
idiom
create future trouble for yourself
To do something now that will make life harder for you later.
Examples
- If you always do your child’s homework for them, you’re making a rod for your own back.
- By promising to answer emails at any time, he made a rod for his own back.
- Don’t lower the price too much or you’ll make a rod for your own back in future negotiations.
rod and reel
1/ɹˈɑd ˈænd ɹˈil/
fixed phrase
set of rod plus reel
A fishing rod together with the reel that holds and lets out the line.
Examples
- He packed his rod and reel in a hard case for the flight.
- Most anglers prefer a light rod and reel for river fishing.
- She bought a starter rod and reel set for her son.
rule with an iron rod
1/ɹˈul wˈɪθ ən ˈaɪɚn ɹˈɑd/
idiom
govern very strictly and harshly
To control people in a very strict and often cruel way.
Examples
- The dictator ruled the country with an iron rod for over thirty years.
- He ruled his company with an iron rod, and no one dared question him.
- Parents who rule with an iron rod may face rebellion later.
spare the rod (and spoil the child)
1/spˈɛɹ ðə ɹˈɑd ˈænd spˈɔɪl ðə t͡ʃˈaɪld/
idiom
literary
proverb about punishing children
A saying meaning that if you never punish a child, they will become badly behaved. (Now often used to talk about discipline in general.)
Examples
- Some older people still repeat the proverb "spare the rod and spoil the child."
- Modern parents often reject the idea behind "spare the rod," preferring non-physical discipline.
- The article asked whether "spare the rod" still has a place in today’s schools.
lightning rod
1/lˈaɪtnɪŋ ɹˈɑd/
fixed phrase
metal rod for lightning protection
A metal bar on top of a building that leads lightning safely into the ground.
Examples
- The church tower is fitted with a lightning rod to protect it during storms.
- The old church has a lightning rod on its steeple.
- Engineers recommended adding a lightning rod to the new high-rise.
- Lightning rods help protect tall buildings during storms.
- The old farmhouse burned down because it didn’t have a lightning rod.