pod 1
— podlike , adj.
/pod/ , n. , v. , podded, podding .
n.
1. a somewhat elongated, two-valved seed vessel, as that of the pea or bean.
2. a dehiscent fruit or pericarp having several seeds.
3. Entomol.
a. an insect egg case.
b. a compact mass of insect eggs.
4. a streamlined enclosure, housing, or detachable container of some kind: an engine pod under the wing of an aircraft.
5. a protective compartment, as for an automobile's instrument gauges.
6. Mining. an orebody that has an elongated or lenticular shape.
7. Radio and Television Slang. a cluster of brief commercials or spot announcements.
v.i.
8. to produce pods.
9. to swell out like a pod.
[ 1680-90; appar. back formation from podder peasecod gatherer; cf. podder, var. of podware, unexplained var. of codware bagged vegetables (COD 2 + -ware crops, vegetables) ]
pod 2
/pod/ , n.
1. a small herd or school, esp. of seals or whales.
2. a small flock of birds.
[ 1825-35, Amer.; perh. special (orig. facetious) use of POD 1 ]
pod 3
/pod/ , n.
1. the straight groove or channel in the body of certain augers or bits.
2. Carpentry. pad 1 (def. 15b).
[ 1565-75; orig. uncert.; perh. a continuation of OE pad covering, cloak, the socket being thought of as something that covers or hides from view what is held in it (though the phonology is irregular) ]