| / English Dictionary |
PROD
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: prodded , prodding
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion
Synonyms:
goad; prod
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("prod" is a kind of...):
device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prod"):
ankus (an elephant goad with a sharp spike and a hook)
gad; spur (a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward)
Derivation:
prod (poke or thrust abruptly)
prod (to push against gently)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
Example:
the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves
Synonyms:
goad; goading; prod; prodding; spur; spurring; urging
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("prod" is a kind of...):
encouragement (the expression of approval and support)
Derivation:
prod (urge on; cause to act)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they prod ... he / she / it prods
Past simple: prodded
Past participle: prodded
-ing form: prodding
Sense 1
Meaning:
Poke or thrust abruptly
Example:
he jabbed his finger into her ribs
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "prod" is one way to...):
thrust (push forcefully)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Derivation:
prod (a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Urge on; cause to act
Example:
The other children egged the boy on, but he did not want to throw the stone through the window
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prod"):
goose (prod into action)
halloo (urge on with shouts)
goad (urge with or as if with a goad)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sentence example:
They prod him to write the letter
Derivation:
prod; prodding (a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something)
Sense 3
Meaning:
To push against gently
Example:
She nudged my elbow when she saw her friend enter the restaurant
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "prod" is one way to...):
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prod"):
jog (give a slight push to)
elbow (shove one's elbow into another person's ribs)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Derivation:
prod (a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion)
Context examples:
It was a strength we are wont to associate with things primitive, with wild animals, and the creatures we imagine our tree-dwelling prototypes to have been—a strength savage, ferocious, alive in itself, the essence of life in that it is the potency of motion, the elemental stuff itself out of which the many forms of life have been moulded; in short, that which writhes in the body of a snake when the head is cut off, and the snake, as a snake, is dead, or which lingers in the shapeless lump of turtle-meat and recoils and quivers from the prod of a finger.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
The cub felt the prod of the life that was in him, and stood up and snarled valiantly by his mother's side.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
The spur of ambition was blunted; he had no vitality with which to feel the prod of it.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
I have seen good shooting with the prod and with the latch, said Aylward, but, by my hilt! camarade, with all respect to you and to your bow, I think that is but a woman's weapon, which a woman can point and loose as easily as a man.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
They were shaking and prodding him into consciousness.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
A trick picture, was his thought, as he dismissed it, though in the midst of the multitudinous impressions he was receiving he found time to feel a prod of indignation that so much beauty should be sacrificed to make a trick.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
He studied the nail-formation, and prodded the finger-tips, now sharply, and again softly, gauging the while the nerve-sensations produced.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
He had to eat as he had never eaten before, to handle strange tools, to glance surreptitiously about and learn how to accomplish each new thing, to receive the flood of impressions that was pouring in upon him and being mentally annotated and classified; to be conscious of a yearning for her that perturbed him in the form of a dull, aching restlessness; to feel the prod of desire to win to the walk in life whereon she trod, and to have his mind ever and again straying off in speculation and vague plans of how to reach to her.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
When he was rolled on his side he ceased to growl, when the fingers pressed and prodded at the base of his ears the pleasurable sensation increased; and when, with a final rub and scratch, the man left him alone and went away, all fear had died out of White Fang.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
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