Stick vs. Rod

An elongated piece of wood or similar material, typically put to some use, for example as a wand or baton.

A small, thin branch from a tree or bush; a twig; a branch.

A relatively long, thin piece of wood, of any size.

Example: ‘What do you call a boomerang that won't come back? A stick.}}’;

(US) A timber board, especially a two by four (inches).

Example: ‘I found enough sticks in dumpsters at construction sites to build my shed.’;

A cane or walking stick (usually wooden, metal or plastic) to aid in walking.

Example: ‘I don’t need my stick to walk, but it’s helpful.’;

A cudgel or truncheon (usually of wood, metal or plastic), especially one carried by police or guards.

Example: ‘As soon as the fight started, the guards came in swinging their sticks.’;

(carpentry) The vertical member of a cope-and-stick joint.

(nautical) A mast or part of a mast of a ship; also, a yard.

(figuratively) A piece (of furniture, especially if wooden).

Example: ‘We were so poor we didn't have one stick of furniture.’;

Any roughly cylindrical (or rectangular) unit of a substance.

Example: ‘Sealing wax is available as a cylindrical or rectangular stick.’;

A small rectangular block, with a length several times its width, which contains by volume one half of a cup of shortening (butter, margarine or lard).

Example: ‘The recipe calls for half a stick of butter.’;

A standard rectangular (often thin) piece of chewing gum.

Example: ‘Don’t hog all that gum, give me a stick!’;

(slang) A cigarette usually a tobacco cigarette, less often a marijuana cigarette.

Example: ‘Cigarettes are taxed at one dollar per stick.’;

Material or objects attached to a stick or the like.

A bunch of something wrapped around or attached to a stick.

(archaic) A scroll that is rolled around (mounted on, attached to) a stick.

(military) The structure to which a set of bombs in a bomber aircraft are attached and which drops the bombs when it is released. The bombs themselves and, by extension, any load of similar items dropped in quick succession such as paratroopers or containers.

A tool, control, or instrument shaped somewhat like a stick.

A manual transmission, a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, so called because of the stick-like, i.e. twig-like, control (the gear shift) with which the driver of such a vehicle controls its transmission.

Example: ‘I grew up driving a stick, but many people my age didn’t.’;

(aviation) The control column of an aircraft; a joystick. By convention, a wheel-like control mechanism with a handgrip on opposite sides, similar to the steering wheel ofan automobiles, is also called the "stick".

Use of the stick to control the aircraft.

(computing) A memory stick.

A composing stick, the tool used by compositors to assemble lines of type.

The clarinet. more often called the liquorice stick

(sports) A stick-like item:

A long thin implement used to control a ball or puck in sports like hockey, polo, and lacrosse.

Example: ‘Tripping with the stick is a violation of the rules.’;

(horse racing) The short whip carried by a jockey.

(boardsports) A board as used in board sports, such as a surfboard, snowboard, or skateboard.

(golf) The pole bearing a small flag that marks the hole.

Example: ‘His wedge shot bounced off the stick and went in the hole.’;

The cue used in billiards, pool, snooker, etc.

Example: ‘His stroke with that two-piece stick is a good as anybody's in the club.’;

Ability; specifically:

(golf) The long-range driving ability of a golf club.

(baseball) The potential hitting power of a specific bat.

(baseball) General hitting ability.

(hockey) The potential accuracy of a hockey stick, implicating also the player using it.

A person or group of people. (Perhaps, in some senses, because people are, broadly speaking, tall and thin, like pieces of wood.)

A thin or wiry person; particularly a flat-chested woman.

(magic) An assistant planted in the audience.

A fighter pilot.

A small group of (infantry) soldiers.

Encouragement or punishment, or (resulting) vigour or other improved behavior.

A negative stimulus or a punishment. (This sense derives from the metaphor of using a stick, a long piece of wood, to poke or beat a beast of burden to compel it to move forward. Compare carrot.)

Corporal punishment; beatings.

(slang) Vigor; spirit; effort, energy, intensity.

Example: ‘Give it some stick!’;

(slang) Vigorous driving of a car; gas.

A measure.

(obsolete) An English Imperial unit of length equal to 2 inches.

A quantity of eels, usually 25.

(motor racing) The traction of tires on the road surface.

(fishing) The amount of fishing line resting on the water surface before a cast; line stick.

A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab.

Criticism or ridicule.

(carpentry) To cut a piece of wood to be the stick member of a cope-and-stick joint.

To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick.

Example: ‘to stick type’;

(intransitive) To become or remain attached; to adhere.

Example: ‘The tape will not stick if it melts.’;

(intransitive) To jam; to stop moving.

Example: ‘The lever sticks if you push it too far up.’;

(transitive) To tolerate, to endure, to stick with.

(intransitive) To persist.

Example: ‘His old nickname stuck.’;

(intransitive) Of snow, to remain frozen on landing.

(intransitive) To remain loyal; to remain firm.

Example: ‘Just stick to your strategy, and you will win.’;

To hesitate, to be reluctant; to refuse (in negative phrases).

To be puzzled (at something), have difficulty understanding.

To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.

(transitive) To attach with glue or as if by gluing.

Example: ‘Stick the label on the jar.’;

(transitive) To place, set down (quickly or carelessly).

Example: ‘Stick your bag over there and come with me.’;

(transitive) To press (something with a sharp point) into something else.

Example: ‘The balloon will pop when I stick this pin in it.’; ‘to stick a needle into one's finger’;

To stab.

(transitive) To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale.

Example: ‘to stick an apple on a fork’;

To adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing.

To perform (a landing) perfectly.

Example: ‘Once again, the world champion sticks the dismount.’;

To propagate plants by cuttings.

Example: ‘Stick cuttings from geraniums promptly.’;

To run or plane (mouldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such mouldings are said to be stuck.

To bring to a halt; to stymie; to puzzle.

Example: ‘to stick somebody with a hard problem’;

To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat.

(informal) Likely to stick; sticking, sticky.

Example: ‘A non-stick pan. A stick plaster.’; ‘A sticker type of glue. The stickest kind of gum.’;

A small shoot, or branch, separated, as by a cutting, from a tree or shrub; also, any stem or branch of a tree, of any size, cut for fuel or timber.

Example: ‘Withered sticks to gather, which might serveAgainst a winter's day.’;

Any long and comparatively slender piece of wood, whether in natural form or shaped with tools; a rod; a wand; a staff; as, the stick of a rocket; a walking stick.

Anything shaped like a stick; as, a stick of wax.

A derogatory expression for a person; one who is inert or stupid; as, an odd stick; a poor stick.

A composing stick. See under Composing. It is usually a frame of metal, but for posters, handbills, etc., one made of wood is used.

A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab.

To penetrate with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to stab; hence, to kill by piercing; as, to stick a beast.

Example: ‘And sticked him with bodkins anon.’; ‘It was a shame . . . to stick him under the other gentleman's arm while he was redding the fray.’;

To cause to penetrate; to push, thrust, or drive, so as to pierce; as, to stick a needle into one's finger.

Example: ‘Thou stickest a dagger in me.’;

To fasten, attach, or cause to remain, by thrusting in; hence, also, to adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing; as, to stick a pin on the sleeve.

Example: ‘My shroud of white, stuck all with yew.’; ‘The points of spears are stuck within the shield.’;

To set; to fix in; as, to stick card teeth.

To set with something pointed; as, to stick cards.

To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale; as, to stick an apple on a fork.

To attach by causing to adhere to the surface; as, to stick on a plaster; to stick a stamp on an envelope; also, to attach in any manner.

To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick; as, to stick type.

To run or plane (moldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such moldings are said to be stuck.

To cause to stick; to bring to a stand; to pose; to puzzle; as, to stick one with a hard problem.

To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat.

To adhere; as, glue sticks to the fingers; paste sticks to the wall.

Example: ‘The green caterpillar breedeth in the inward parts of roses not blown, where the dew sticketh.’;

To remain where placed; to be fixed; to hold fast to any position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely.

Example: ‘A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.’; ‘I am a kind of bur; I shall stick.’; ‘If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown,'T will ever stick through malice of your own.’;

To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed.

Example: ‘I had most need of blessing, and "Amen"Stuck in my throat.’; ‘The trembling weapon passedThrough nine bull hides, . . . and stuck within the last.’;

To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; - often with at.

Example: ‘They will stick long at part of a demonstration for want of perceiving the connection of two ideas.’; ‘Some stick not to say, that the parson and attorney forged a will.’;

To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.

Example: ‘This is the difficulty that sticks with the most reasonable.’;

implement consisting of a length of wood;

Example: ‘he collected dry sticks for a campfire’; ‘the kid had a candied apple on a stick’;

a small thin branch of a tree

a lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplane

informal terms of the leg;

Example: ‘fever left him weak on his sticks’;

marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking

threat of a penalty;

Example: ‘the policy so far is all stick and no carrot’;

fix, force, or implant;

Example: ‘lodge a bullet in the table’;

stay put (in a certain place);

Example: ‘We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati’; ‘Stay put in the corner here!’; ‘Stick around and you will learn something!’;

cause to protrude or as if to protrude;

Example: ‘stick one's hand out of the window’; ‘stick one's nose into other people's business’;

stick to firmly;

Example: ‘Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?’;

be or become fixed;

Example: ‘The door sticks--we will have to plane it’;

endure;

Example: ‘The label stuck to her for the rest of her life’;

be a devoted follower or supporter;

Example: ‘The residents of this village adhered to Catholicism’; ‘She sticks to her principles’;

be loyal to;

Example: ‘She stood by her husband in times of trouble’; ‘The friends stuck together through the war’;

cover and decorate with objects that pierce the surface;

Example: ‘stick some feathers in the turkey before you serve it’;

fasten with an adhesive material like glue;

Example: ‘stick the poster onto the wall’;

fasten with or as with pins or nails;

Example: ‘stick the photo onto the corkboard’;

fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something;

Example: ‘stick the corner of the sheet under the mattress’;

pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument;

Example: ‘he stuck the cloth with the needle’;

pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed;

Example: ‘He stuck the needle into his finger’;

come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation;

Example: ‘The dress clings to her body’; ‘The label stuck to the box’; ‘The sushi rice grains cohere’;

saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous;

Example: ‘They stuck me with the dinner bill’; ‘I was stung with a huge tax bill’;

be a mystery or bewildering to;

Example: ‘This beats me!’; ‘Got me--I don't know the answer!’; ‘a vexing problem’; ‘This question really stuck me’;

A straight, round stick, shaft, bar, cane, or staff.

Example: ‘The circus strong man proved his strength by bending an iron rod, and then straightening it.’;

A longitudinal pole used for forming part of a framework such as an awning or tent.

(fishing) A long slender usually tapering pole used for angling; fishing rod.

Example: ‘When I hooked a snake and not a fish, I got so scared I dropped my rod in the water.’;

A stick, pole, or bundle of switches or twigs (such as a birch), used for personal defense or to administer corporal punishment by whipping.

An implement resembling and/or supplanting a rod (particularly a cane) that is used for corporal punishment, and metonymically called the rod, regardless of its actual shape and composition.

Example: ‘The judge imposed on the thief a sentence of fifteen strokes with the rod.’;

A stick used to measure distance, by using its established length or task-specific temporary marks along its length, or by dint of specific graduated marks.

Example: ‘I notched a rod and used it to measure the length of rope to cut.’;

(archaic) A unit of length equal to 1 pole, a perch, ¼ chain, 5½ yards, 16½ feet, or exactly 5.0292 meters (these being all equivalent).

An implement held vertically and viewed through an optical surveying instrument such as a transit, used to measure distance in land surveying and construction layout; an engineer's rod, surveyor's rod, surveying rod, leveling rod, ranging rod. The modern (US) engineer's or surveyor's rod commonly is eight or ten feet long and often designed to extend higher. In former times a surveyor's rod often was a single wooden pole or composed of multiple sectioned and socketed pieces, and besides serving as a sighting target was used to measure distance on the ground horizontally, hence for convenience was of one rod or pole in length, that is, 5½ yards.

(archaic) A unit of area equal to a square rod, 30¼ square yards or 1/160 acre.

Example: ‘The house had a small yard of about six rods in size.’;

A straight bar that unites moving parts of a machine, for holding parts together as a connecting rod or for transferring power as a drive-shaft.

Example: ‘The engine threw a rod, and then went to pieces before our eyes, springs and coils shooting in all directions.’;

(anatomy) Short for rod cell, a rod-shaped cell in the eye that is sensitive to light.

Example: ‘The rods are more sensitive than the cones, but do not discern color.’;

(biology) Any of a number of long, slender microorganisms.

Example: ‘He applied a gram positive stain, looking for rods indicative of Listeria.’;

(chemistry) A stirring rod: a glass rod, typically about 6 inches to 1 foot long and 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter that can be used to stir liquids in flasks or beakers.

(slang) A pistol; a gun.

A penis.

(slang) A hot rod, an automobile or other passenger motor vehicle modified to run faster and often with exterior cosmetic alterations, especially one based originally on a pre-1940s model or (currently) denoting any older vehicle thus modified.

(ufology) A rod-shaped object that appears in photographs or videos traveling at high speed, not seen by the person recording the event, often associated with extraterrestrial entities.

(mathematics) A Cuisenaire rod.

(rail transport) A coupling rod or connecting rod, which links the driving wheels of a steam locomotive.

(construction) To reinforce concrete with metal rods.

To penetrate sexually.

(slang) To hot rod.

A straight and slender stick; a wand; hence, any slender bar, as of wood or metal (applied to various purposes).

Example: ‘He that spareth his rod hateth his son.’;

A kind of sceptor, or badge of office; hence, figuratively, power; authority; tyranny; oppression.

A measure of length containing sixteen and a half feet; - called also perch, and pole.

a linear measure of 16.5 feet

a long thin implement made of metal or wood

any rod-shaped bacterium

a square rod of land

visual receptor cell sensitive to dim light

a gangster's pistol