to push somebody/something with your finger or with a pointed object

to try to make somebody do something, especially when they are unwilling

She finally prodded him into action.

Institutions were prodded into changing over to commercial management structures.

‘You still haven't answered my question,’ she prodded him.

He kept very quiet until she prodded him to say what he was looking for.

the act of pushing somebody with your finger or with a pointed object

an act of encouraging somebody or of reminding somebody to do something

If they haven't replied by next week, you'll have to call them and give them a prod.

an instrument like a stick that is used for prodding animals

LEARNit Dictionary