# pod

/pɑːd/ (US) · /pɒd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pod
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. seed case of a plant

noun · CEFR B1

a long, thin case that holds the seeds of a plant such as a pea or bean.

For teachers: the elongated seed vessel of a leguminous plant, which dries and splits open when ripe to release its seeds.

- The peas grew inside a bright green pod.
- As the beans ripened, each pod dried and split along its seam, scattering the seeds across the soil.

### 2. group of whales or dolphins

noun · CEFR B2

a small group of whales, dolphins, or seals that swim together.

For teachers: a social group of marine mammals such as whales or dolphins that travel, hunt, and communicate together.

- A pod of dolphins followed the boat.
- Marine biologists tracked the pod of orcas for weeks as it migrated along the coastline.

### 3. detachable compartment

noun · CEFR B2

a small, separate part of a vehicle or structure, often one that can come away from the main body.

For teachers: a detachable or self-contained compartment or capsule, such as an escape pod or one of the passenger capsules on an observation wheel.

- The astronauts climbed into the escape pod.
- Each glass pod on the observation wheel turns slowly enough for passengers to photograph the whole skyline.

### 4. small container or unit

noun · CEFR C1

a small sealed container for a single use, or a small self-contained unit in technology.

For teachers: a small single-use container (as of coffee or detergent) and, by extension, a self-contained technical unit such as a Kubernetes pod that groups one or more containers sharing storage and network.

- She dropped a coffee pod into the machine.
- In Kubernetes, a pod bundles one or more containers so they share storage, a network address, and a lifecycle.

## Usage notes

- When referring to animals, it is a collective noun specifically used for marine mammals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.