wand

Meaning

Noun

1. A hand-held narrow rod, usually used for pointing or instructing, or as a traditional emblem of authority.
2. An instrument shaped like a wand, such as a curling wand.
3. A stick or rod used by a magician (a magic wand), conjurer or diviner (divining rod).
4. A stick, branch, or stalk, especially of willow.
5. A card of a particular suit of the minor arcana in tarot, the wands.

Verb

1. To scan (e.g. a passenger at an airport) with a handheld metal detector.
2. To use a handheld vibrator (the sex toy) on (a person or body part).

Synonyms

baton

rod

stick

staff

scepter

sceptre

cane

pole

switch

verge

mace

truncheon

supple stick

ferule

twig

ingot

drub

crozier

shaft

sprig

crook

conductor’s baton

bow

🙇

birch

bandy

bar

walking stick

yard

mahlstick

long handle

perch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/wɒnd/

Etymology

From Middle English wand, wond, from Old Norse vǫndr (“switch, twig”), from Proto-Germanic *wanduz (“rod”), from Proto-Indo-European *wendʰ- (“to turn, twist, wind, braid”). Cognate with Icelandic vendi (“wand”), Danish vånd (“wand, switch”), German Wand (“wall, septum”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 (wandus, “rod”).

Sentences

The S . W . A . T . entry team used an optical wand to observe the proceedings behind the door .