verb Common

rode

rohd

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Rode (verb) means of a male woodcock, to fly a repeated back-and-forth path over the edge of woodland while calling, as part of its courtship display. Example: “At dusk you could watch the woodcock rode along the treeline, calling as it went.”

verb

Of a male woodcock, to fly a repeated back-and-forth path over the edge of woodland while calling, as part of its courtship display.

"At dusk you could watch the woodcock rode along the treeline, calling as it went."

noun

The rope or chain connecting a boat to its anchor.

"The skipper checked that the rode was long enough for the deep water."

"He let out more rode so the anchor would grip the seabed properly."

"The rode had tangled around the propeller during the night."

How to use rode

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTwo unrelated specialist meanings: a woodcock's display flight (birdwatching) and the anchor rope on a boat (sailing).

Common mistake

Don't confuse this with rode as the simple past tense of ride — this is a completely different, much rarer word with its own separate meanings.

Easily confused with

ride → road →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: rodes
Third person singular: rodes
Past tense: roded

Test yourself on “rode” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

At dusk you could watch the woodcock _____ along the treeline, calling as it went.

Etymology

The place-name and surname sense traces to Old English rodu, meaning "a clearing" — used for a person from a cleared patch of woodland.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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anchor line cable warp line chain anchor rope

Related words

business line course job air series blood range

Rhymes for rode

ode code mode bode node lode diode abode erode Rhode Goode encode

See all rhymes for rode →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rode” mean?

The word “rode” means of a male woodcock, to fly a repeated back-and-forth path over the edge of woodland while calling, as part of its courtship display. In plain terms, two unrelated specialist meanings: a woodcock's display flight (birdwatching) and the anchor rope on a boat (sailing).

How do you pronounce “rode”?

“Rode” is pronounced rohd (/ɹoʊd/ in IPA).

How do you use “rode” in a sentence?

Here is “rode” used in a sentence: “At dusk you could watch the woodcock rode along the treeline, calling as it went.”

What part of speech is “rode”?

Depending on how it is used, “rode” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “rode” come from?

The word “rode” comes from Old English. The place-name and surname sense traces to Old English rodu, meaning "a clearing" — used for a person from a cleared patch of woodland.

Is “rode” a common word?

“Rode” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “rode” have?

“Rode” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of a male woodcock, to fly a repeated back-and-forth path over the edge of woodland while calling, as part of its courtship display.

What is the difference between rode, road, and rowed?

These three are homophones that sound alike but differ in meaning: rode is a past-tense verb form and, in sailing, the line connecting a boat to its anchor; road is a route for travelling; and rowed is the past tense of row, meaning to propel a boat with oars. Choosing the right spelling depends entirely on the meaning.

What is the difference between an anchor rode and an anchor rope?

An anchor rode is the whole line connecting a boat to its anchor, which may be rope, chain, or a combination of both. "Rope" describes only the fibre part, so a rode made entirely of chain would not be called a rope.

What are common collocations with the nautical term rode?

In sailing, rode appears in phrases such as "anchor rode," "chain rode," "rope rode," and "all-chain rode." Sailors also talk about paying out or letting out the rode when dropping anchor.

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