plod

American  

[plod] / plɒd /

verb (used without object)

plodded, plodding

1. to walk heavily or move laboriously; trudge.

   to plod under the weight of a burden.

2. to proceed in a tediously slow manner.

   The play just plodded along in the second act.

3. to work with constant and monotonous perseverance; drudge.

   Synonyms:

   labor, moil, toil

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verb (used with object)

plodded, plodding

1. to walk heavily over or along.

noun

1. the act or a course of plodding.

2. a sound of a heavy tread.

plod British  

/ plɒd /

verb

1. to make (one's way) or walk along (a path, road, etc) with heavy usually slow steps

2. (intr) to work slowly and perseveringly

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noun

1. the act of plodding

2. the sound of slow heavy steps

3. slang a policeman

Related Words

See pace ¹.

Other Word Forms

• outplod
  verb (used with object)
• plodder
  noun
• plodding
  adjective
• ploddingly
  adverb
• ploddingness
  noun
• unplodding
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of plod

First recorded in 1555–65; perhaps imitative

Explanation

When you plod, you walk slowly, heavily, and deliberately. You might need to plod through the snow to get to the bus stop on time. Plod evokes a difficulty in walking — like when you trudge through mud or walk slowly up a steep hill. You might plod home at the end of a long day, or plod through an overgrown field on a hot afternoon. You can also use plod figuratively to mean "work on something boring or monotonous." The origin of plod is unknown, but it may have come from the sound of feet on the ground — the sound you make when you plod.

Example Sentences

But when it turns out that a child went missing on that night, and Steve from Neighbourhood Watch starts playing Policeman Plod, Grace suddenly discovers that both truth and lies can be very dangerous indeed.

From The Guardian • Feb. 18, 2013

The members of the Lemming or Stumpy or Plod probably didn't.

From The Guardian • Jun. 17, 2012

Despite criticism that her work was sentimental, few bedtimes were complete without a story about Toyland, inhabited by Little Noddy the Pixie and Mr. Plod the Policeman.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus, when Mr. Plod the Policeman wants to clap Noddy into jail on bread and water and rice pudding.

From Time Magazine Archive

At that moment Old Plod, passing through the yard in his early Saturday release from toil, gave a loud whinny of recognition.

From A Day of Fate by Roe, Edward Payson

Related Words

• lumber
• slog
• tramp
• trudge