Prod

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Prod, n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. brod goad, prickle, sting, and E. brad, also W. procio to poke, thrust.].

•  A pointed instrument for pricking or puncturing, as a goad, an awl, a skewer, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  A prick or stab which a pointed instrument.  [1913 Webster]
•  A light kind of crossbow; -- in the sense, often spelled prodd.  Fairholt.  [1913 Webster]

Prod, v. t. 

 To thrust some pointed instrument into; to prick with something sharp; as, to prod a soldier with a bayonet; to prod oxen; hence, to goad, to incite, to worry; as, to prod a student.  H. Taylor.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Prod, v. & n.
--v. (prodded, prodding)
1 tr. poke with the finger or a pointed object.
2 tr. stimulate to action.
3 intr. (foll. by at) make a prodding motion.
--n.
1 a poke or thrust.
2 a stimulus to action.
3 a pointed instrument.

Derivative

prodder n.

Etymology

16th c.: perh. imit.

THESAURUS

Prod

activate, actuate, annoy, assault, badger, bear, bear upon, bearing, boost, buck, bull, bulldoze, bump, bump against, bunt, butt, butt against, carp at, cavil, come in contact, cram, crowd, cue, dig, drive, egg on, elbow, encourage, excite, exhort, feel, feel of, finger, flick, flog, force, gad, gadfly, goad, grope, handle, harass, head, hector, henpeck, hound, hurtle, hustle, impel, incite, instigate, irk, irritate, jab, jam, jog, joggle, jolt, jostle, lash, manipulate, motivate, move, nag, needle, nudge, oxgoad, palm, palpate, paw, pester, pile drive, pique, plague, ply, poke, poke at, press, pressure, prick, prompt, propel, provoke, punch, push, quick look, ram, ram down, rattle, reminder, rouse, rowel, run, run against, shake, shoulder, shove, sic, signal, spur, stimulate, stimulus, sting, stir, stress, tamp, tap, tentative examination, thrust, thumb, touch, twiddle, urge, whip, whiplash, wield

ROGET THESAURUS

Prod

Impulse

VB flash on the mind, say what comes uppermost, improvise, extemporize, give an impetus, impel, push, start, give a start to, set going, drive, urge, boom, thrust, prod, foin, cant, elbow, shoulder, jostle, justle, hustle, hurtle, shove, jog, jolt, encounter, run against, bump against, butt against, knock one's head against, run one's head against, impinge, boost, bunt, carom, clip y, fan, fan out, jab, plug, strike, knock, hit, tap, rap, slap, flap, dab, pat, thump, beat, blow, bang, slam, dash, punch, thwack, whack, hit hard, strike hard, swap, batter, dowse, baste, pelt, patter, buffet, belabor, fetch one a blow, poke at, pink, lunge, yerk, kick, calcitrate, butt, strike at, whip, come into a collision, enter into collision, collide, sideswipe, foul, fall foul of, run foul of, telescope, throw.