knife Meaning & Definition
What Does Knife Mean?
Knife is used as a noun meaning A utensil or a tool designed for cutting, consisting of a flat piece of hard material, usually steel or other metal (the blade), usually sharpened on one edge, attached to a handle. The blade may be pointed for piercing. It is also used to mean A weapon designed with the aforementioned specifications intended for slashing or stabbing but too short to be called a sword; a dagger. As a verb, it means To cut with a knife.
Quick Facts About Knife
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈnaɪ̯f/ |
| Synonyms | tongue and stab |
| Plural | knives |
| Verb forms | knifes, knifing, knifed |
Knife Definition (Noun)
- A utensil or a tool designed for cutting, consisting of a flat piece of hard material, usually steel or other metal (the blade), usually sharpened on one edge, attached to a handle. The blade may be pointed for piercing.
He was looking for a knife to chop some steak.
- A weapon designed with the aforementioned specifications intended for slashing or stabbing but too short to be called a sword; a dagger.
- Any blade-like part in a tool or a machine designed for cutting, such as that of a chipper.
Knife as a Verb
- To cut with a knife.
- To use a knife to injure or kill by stabbing, slashing, or otherwise using the sharp edge of the knife as a weapon.
She was repeatedly knifed in the chest.
- To cut through as if with a knife.
The boat knifed through the water.
- To betray, especially in the context of a political slate.
- To positively ignore, especially in order to denigrate; compare cut.
Noun
- A weapon designed with the aforementioned specifications intended for slashing and/or stabbing and too short to be called a sword. A dagger.
Synonyms of Knife
Knife synonyms and antonyms →Knife in a Sentence
He was looking for a knife to chop some steak.
She was repeatedly knifed in the chest.
The boat knifed through the water.
Word Forms & Grammar
knife (plural knives)
knife (third-person singular simple present knifes, present participle knifing, simple past and past participle knifed)
Words That Rhyme With Knife
Origin of Knife
From Middle English knyf, knif, from late Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr or Proto-West Germanic *knīb,[1] from Proto-Germanic *knībaz, from *knīpaną (“to pinch”), Proto-Indo-European *gneybʰ- (compare Lithuanian gnýbti, žnýbti (“to pinch”), gnaibis (“pinching”)). Displaced native Middle English sax (“knife”), from Old English seax; and Middle English coutel, qwetyll (“knife”) from Old French coutel.
Common Questions About Knife
Is knife a noun or a verb?
Knife is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for knife?
Close synonyms of knife are tongue and stab. See the full list of knife synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of knife?
The plural of knife is knives.
What is the past tense of knife?
The past tense of knife is knifed. The present participle is knifing.