prod
v.v. to push someone or something with your finger or a pointed object. You can also use it to describe giving someone a gentle reminder to do something.
v. to poke or jab with a finger, foot, or pointed instrument; figuratively, to incite or rouse a person into action.
She gave him a sharp prod in the ribs to wake him up.
The manager had to prod the team several times before they finally submitted the project report.
While the physical sensation was merely a light prod, the psychological effect was enough to make the witness reconsider their silence during the investigation.
Alteration of earlier brod (perhaps through influence of poke; compare prog), from Middle English brodden (“to goad, incite, urge; to sprout”), from brod (“goad, nail; shoot, sprout”), from Old Norse broddr (“shaft, spike, thorn”), from Proto-Germanic *bruzdaz. Cognate with Icelandic broddur, Danish brod. Doublet of brad. Or, from or influenced by sound symbolism.
Shortened from production.
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; often used with 'into' when describing persuasion ('prod someone into doing something').