Prod

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -É’d

Origin

From Middle English brodden, from Old Norse broddr ("shaft, spike"), from Proto-Germanic *bruzdaz. Cognate with Icelandic broddur, Danish brod.

Full definition of prod

Verb

1. To poke, to push, to touch.
2. To encourage, to prompt.
• 2012-01, Michael Riordan, Tackling Infinity, Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains. Getting rid of these nagging infinities has probably occupied far more effort than was spent in originating the theories.

Noun

1. A device (now often electrical) used to goad livestock into moving.
2. A prick or stab with such a pointed instrument.
3. A poke."It's your turn," she reminded me, giving me a prod on the shoulder.
4. A light kind of crossbow; a prodd.

Derived terms

• cattle prod

Anagrams

• dorp
• drop