pod

[ pod ]

/ pɒd /

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noun

a somewhat elongated, two-valved seed vessel, as that of the pea or bean.

a dehiscent fruit or pericarp having several seeds.

Entomology.

an insect egg case.
a compact mass of insect eggs.

a streamlined enclosure, housing, or detachable container of some kind: an engine pod under the wing of an aircraft.

a protective compartment, as for an automobile's instrument gauges.

bubble (def. 11b): I've agreed with some friends to become part of their pandemic pod.

Mining. an orebody that has an elongated or lenticular shape.

Radio and Television Slang. a cluster of brief commercials or spot announcements.

verb (used without object), pod·ded, pod·ding.

to produce pods.

to swell out like a pod.

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Origin of pod

First recorded in 1680–90; apparently back formation from podder “gatherer of peas (as from a garden)”; further origin uncertain)

OTHER WORDS FROM pod

pod·like, adjectiveun·pod·ded, adjective

Words nearby pod

Pocono Mountains, Poços de Caldas, pocosin, pocul., poculiform, pod, -poda, podagra, podalgia, podalic, podcast

Other definitions for pod (2 of 9)

pod²

[ pod ]

/ pɒd /

noun

a group of aquatic animals, especially marine mammals: a pod of walruses.

a small flock of birds.

Origin of pod

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; perhaps special (originally facetious) use of pod¹

Other definitions for pod (3 of 9)

pod³

[ pod ]

/ pɒd /

noun, verb (used with or without object)

podcast: What pods do you listen to?I'll be podding about the film next week.We should pod all the discussions we're having leading up to our trip.

Origin of pod

First recorded in 2005–10; by shortening

Other definitions for pod (4 of 9)

pod⁴

[ pod ]

/ pɒd /

noun

the straight groove or channel in the body of certain augers or bits.

Carpentry. pad¹ (def. 15b).

Origin of pod

⁴

First recorded in 1565–75; origin uncertain; perhaps a continuation of Old English pād “outer garment, cloak,” the socket being thought of as something that covers or hides from view what is held in it (though the phonology is irregular)

Other definitions for pod (5 of 9)

POD

abbreviation

port of debarkation.

Other definitions for pod (6 of 9)

pod-

a learned borrowing from Greek meaning “foot,” used in the formation of compound words: pododynia.

Also especially before a consonant, podo- .

Origin of pod-

Combining form representing Greek poús (genitive podós ) foot

Other definitions for pod (7 of 9)

-pod

a combining form meaning “one having a foot” of the kind or number specified by the initial element; often corresponding to New Latin class names ending in -poda, with -pod used in English to name a single member of such a class: cephalopod.Compare -ped.

Origin of -pod

From New Latin, from Greek -pod-, stem of -pous, adjective derivative of poús; see origin at foot

Other definitions for pod (8 of 9)

p.o.'d

[ pee-ohd ]

/ ˈpiˈoʊd /

adjective Slang.

pissed off.

Origin of p.o.'d

First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening

Other definitions for pod (9 of 9)

P.O.D.

abbreviation

pay on delivery.

Post Office Department.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pod in a sentence

Weganool fabric made with calotropis pod fibers, which are viewable on the left.
How a Wasteland Shrub Is Becoming the Next Big Thing in Fashion|Daniel Malloy|August 28, 2020|Ozy
They usually travel in pods, too, so it’s especially odd this beluga was spotted alone.
Environment Report: Why Your Water Bill Might Spike|MacKenzie Elmer|July 27, 2020|Voice of San Diego
I asked him if the rise of the learning pod will make existing disparities worse.
The Learning Curve: The Dystopian Future of ‘Learning Pods’|Will Huntsberry|July 16, 2020|Voice of San Diego
These pods will still be made up of public school students, who are getting some level of online instruction from public school teachers.
The Learning Curve: The Dystopian Future of ‘Learning Pods’|Will Huntsberry|July 16, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Sitting at the bow of a boat, they sniff the air blown toward them from a pod of orcas.
Conservation is going to the dogs|Alison Pearce Stevens|April 2, 2020|Science News For Students
The Navy and Marine Corps versions of the F-35 have differing configurations and rely on an external gun pod.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But at Cheshire, prisoners rarely, if ever, leave their pod.
‘Progressive Jail’ Is a 21st-Century Hell, Inmates Complain|Sarah Shourd|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The faction leaders each take a colony pod and set out to form their own society on the new planet.
Nerdiness from Noah: Alpha Centauri|Noah Kristula-Green|March 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When he first tries the pods for himself, he fails to realize that a fly has made its way into the other pod.
Zac Efron, Tom Cruise & More Actors in Their Tighty Whities (VIDEO)|Mike Munoz|October 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Top adviser Eric Fehrnstrom told MSNBC that Santorum and Gingrich are “two peas in a pod—longtime Washington legislators.”
Romney Losing His Mojo After Caucus, Primary Losses to Santorum|Howard Kurtz|February 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It bears a pod similar to that of the locust, to which it is related, containing eight to twelve beans.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume XVI|Various
Instantly it split, showing the gummed red seeds clinging to the inner walls of the sensitive pod.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm|Irvin S. Cobb
The bark is light in colour; and the capsule pod contains a large quantity of down, of a brown tint, and exquisite silky softness.
The Desert World|Arthur Mangin
It is very long--nearly twice as long as this page and looks much more like a stem than a seed-pod.
On the Seashore|R. Cadwallader Smith
She and her kitten were as much alike as two peas in a pod—jet-black, and with beautiful yellow-green eyes.
Mary and I|Stephen Return Riggs

British Dictionary definitions for pod (1 of 5)

pod¹

/ (pɒd) /

noun

the fruit of any leguminous plant, consisting of a long two-valved case that contains seeds and splits along both sides when ripe
the seedcase as distinct from the seeds

any similar fruit

a streamlined structure attached by a pylon to an aircraft and used to house a jet engine (podded engine), fuel tank, armament, etc

an enclosed cabin suspended from a cable or a big wheel, for carrying passengers

verb pods, podding or podded

(tr) to remove the pod or shell from (peas, beans, etc)

(intr) (of a plant) to produce pods

Word Origin for pod

C17: perhaps back formation from earlier podware bagged vegetables, probably from pod, variant of cod ² + ware 1

British Dictionary definitions for pod (2 of 5)

pod²

/ (pɒd) /

noun

a small group of animals, esp seals, whales, or birds

Word Origin for pod

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for pod (3 of 5)

pod³

/ (pɒd) /

noun

a straight groove along the length of certain augers and bits

the socket that holds the bit in a boring tool

Word Origin for pod

C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for pod (4 of 5)

POD

abbreviation for

pay on delivery

abbreviation for

print on demand

British Dictionary definitions for pod (5 of 5)

-pod

-pode

n combining form

indicating a certain type or number of feetarthropod; tripod

Word Origin for -pod

from Greek -podos footed, from pous foot

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pod (1 of 2)

pod

[ pŏd ]

A fruit or seed case that usually splits along two seams to release its seeds when mature. Legumes, such as peas and beans, produce pods.

Scientific definitions for pod (2 of 2)

-pod

A suffix meaning foot. It is used in the scientific names of the members of many groups of organisms, such as arthropod, an organism having jointed feet, and sauropod, a dinosaur having lizard feet. It is also used in the names of different kinds of limbs or limblike body parts, such as pseudopod, the false foot of an amoeba.

pod

Origin of pod

OTHER WORDS FROM pod

Words nearby pod

Other definitions for pod (2 of 9)

Origin of pod

Other definitions for pod (3 of 9)

Origin of pod

Other definitions for pod (4 of 9)

Origin of pod

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Origin of pod-

Other definitions for pod (7 of 9)

Origin of -pod

Other definitions for pod (8 of 9)

Origin of p.o.'d

Other definitions for pod (9 of 9)

Words related to pod

How to use pod in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pod (1 of 5)

Word Origin for pod

British Dictionary definitions for pod (2 of 5)

Word Origin for pod

British Dictionary definitions for pod (3 of 5)

Word Origin for pod

British Dictionary definitions for pod (4 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for pod (5 of 5)

-pode

Word Origin for -pod

Scientific definitions for pod (1 of 2)

Scientific definitions for pod (2 of 2)