A lightning rod ( US , AUS ) or lightning conductor ( UK ) is a metal rod or metallic object mounted on top of an elevated structure , such as a building , a ship , or even a tree , electrically bonded using a wire or electrical conductor to interface with ground or `` earth '' through an electrode , engineered to protect the structure in the event of lightning strike .
A lightning rod or lightning conductor is a metal rod that is used to make lightning strike it , rather than strike something else .