sod

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: turf sense 1
also : the grass- and forb-covered surface of the ground
2
: one's native land

sod

2 of 4

verb (1)

sodded; sodding

transitive verb

: to cover with sod or turfs

sod

3 of 4

noun (2)

chiefly British
: bugger
if I ever find the sod I'll kill himJohn Le Carré

sod

4 of 4

verb (2)

sodded; sodding; sods

transitive verb

chiefly British

Examples of sod in a Sentence

Noun (1) a sentimental journey back to the old sod Noun (2) he's a nasty old sod who never has a nice thing to say about anybody
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Note that timing may vary slightly when starting your lawn from sod or plugs. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 July 2024 Staff have been refreshing the giant panda exhibit in anticipation of Bao Li and Qing Bao’s arrival, with upgrades like fresh sod, murals depicting mountains, a panda hammock, black locust climbing structures and 40 Giant Panda Cam cameras, per the Washington Post. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024
Verb
Avoid sodding shady spots during the rainy season to prevent decline due to rot problems. Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2024 The protesters want the city to clean up the cemetery, put up gravemarkers and re-sod the area that workers destroyed with the dirt piles. Ernie Suggs, ajc, 26 July 2021 See all Example Sentences for sod 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German sode; akin to Old Frisian sātha sod

Noun (2)

short for sodomite

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1653, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1818, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sod was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sod

Cite this Entry

“Sod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sod. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sod

1 of 2 noun
1
b
: the grass-covered and herb-covered surface of the ground
2
: one's native land

sod

2 of 2 verb
sodded; sodding
: to cover with sod or turfs

Medical Definition

SOD

abbreviation
superoxide dismutase

More from Merriam-Webster on sod

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!