rods
rods — noun
- rodssingular
- rodsesplural
1. a long, thin straight piece of a hard material such as wood, metal, or plastic,
a long, thin straight piece of a hard material such as wood, metal, or plastic, used for hanging things, supporting structures, or reaching things that are far away.
Ezra hung the heavy curtains on a metal rod above the window.
collocation: metal rod / curtain rod
The old fishing rod snapped when Soraya tried to pull in a large fish.
collocation: fishing rod
Steel rods are used inside concrete columns to make buildings stronger.
A long wooden rod held the classroom map flat against the wall.
The gardener used a thin rod to support the young tomato plants.
用法筆記
Often used in compound nouns such as curtain rod, fishing rod, and lightning rod. The material is frequently specified: a steel rod, a wooden rod, a glass rod.
常見錯誤
2. a type of light-sensitive cell located within the retina — the thin tissue linin
a type of light-sensitive cell located within the retina — the thin tissue lining the inner surface of the eyeball — that enables you to perceive shapes and motion under very dim lighting.
Joon learned in biology class that rods let him see shapes in a dark room.
cause-effect: rods enable night vision
Rods are more sensitive than cones, so you can see in a dim room.
comparative structure: more sensitive than
When Jin entered the dark cinema, his rods helped his eyes adjust.
In the twilight garden, Esme noticed everything looked grey because only her rods were active.
- rod cell
the full scientific name for this cell type
- cone
the other type of light-sensitive cell in the retina, responsible for colour vision in bright light
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural (rods) when referring to this type of cell. The singular (a rod) is possible but rare. Typically contrasted with cones, the colour-detecting cells.
常見錯誤
3. a traditional way of stating length or area, equal to about 5.03 metres (16.5 fe
a traditional way of stating length or area, equal to about 5.03 metres (16.5 feet) as a linear measure, or a square measuring one rod on each side for area.
The old farm measured thirty rods from the barn to the river.
collocation: measured in rods
Surveyors in the 1800s often wrote property boundaries in rods and chains.
The field was exactly one rod wide and ten rods long.
The surveyor told Lien that her family's plot of land was exactly ten rods wide.
用法筆記
Very rarely used in modern everyday speech. You are most likely to find this sense in historical documents, old property deeds, or countryside measurements in the UK and US.
常見錯誤
4. a highly offensive slang term used to refer to a man's sexual organ.
a highly offensive slang term used to refer to a man's sexual organ.
The comedian was fined for using the word 'rod' on live television.
offensive slang — avoid in polite speech
The script was edited to remove a crude joke that included the word 'rod'.
Some old movies used 'rod' as a crude way to refer to male anatomy.
The school warned students not to use the slang term 'rod' during class.
用法筆記
Strongly offensive in most contexts. Equivalent in vulgarity to several other taboo terms for the same body part. Not appropriate in formal, academic, or polite conversation. Learners should understand the meaning but avoid using it.
常見錯誤
5. a type of bacterium that has a long, narrow shape resembling a thin straight sti
a type of bacterium that has a long, narrow shape resembling a thin straight stick.
Dr. Obi showed Gabriela rod-shaped E. coli bacteria under the classroom microscope.
collocation: rod-shaped bacteria
The lab report showed Gram-positive rods in the patient's blood sample.
Under the microscope, the rods appeared as tiny straight lines among round cocci.
The doctor identified the infection as caused by a rod-shaped bacterium called Bacillus.
- bacillus
the scientific Latin term for any rod-shaped bacterium; also the name of a specific genus
- coccus
a spherical-shaped bacterium
用法筆記
Primarily a technical term used in microbiology and medical contexts. Bacteria are classified into three basic shapes: rods (bacilli), spheres (cocci), and spirals (spirilla).