knife

American  

[nahyf] / naɪf /

noun

PLURAL

knives

1. an instrument for cutting, consisting essentially of a thin, sharp-edged, metal blade fitted with a handle.

2. a knifelike weapon; dagger or short sword.

3. any blade for cutting, as in a tool or machine.

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verb (used with object)

knifed, knifing

1. to apply a knife to; cut, stab, etc., with a knife.

2. to attempt to defeat or undermine in a secret or underhanded way.

verb (used without object)

knifed, knifing

1. to move or cleave through something with or as if with a knife.

   The ship knifed through the heavy seas.

idioms

1. under the knife,  in surgery; undergoing a medical operation.

   The patient was under the knife for four hours.

knife British  

/ naɪf /

noun

1. a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp-edged often pointed blade of metal fitted into a handle or onto a machine

2. a similar instrument used as a weapon

3. to have a grudge against or victimize someone

4. to make a bad situation worse in a deliberately malicious way

5. people are determined to harm or put a stop to someone

   the knives are out for Stevens

6. undergoing a surgical operation

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verb

1. to cut, stab, or kill with a knife

2. to betray, injure, or depose in an underhand way

knife More Idioms  

1. see at gunpoint (knifepoint); under the knife; you could cut it with a knife.

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Other Word Forms

• knifelike adjective
• knifer noun

Etymology

Origin of knife

before 1100; Middle English knif, Old English cnīf; cognate with Dutch knijf, German Kneif, Old Norse knīfr

Example Sentences

On either side, men bent at the waist, clearing fruit with one quick sweep of the knife and moving on to the next.

From Los Angeles Times

Working on a thick sheet of glass, she uses the blade from a utility knife to work the glue into the paper and smooths it out on the surface with her fingertips.

From Barron's

"Ultimately the best team generally wins Test matches but this one, it's on a bit more of a knife edge of conditions."

From BBC

Speaking at a media facility on Thursday afternoon, DCC Singleton said knives were the "most significant threat" to officers, with their presence going up at an "alarming rate" as officers respond to incidents.

From BBC

While some short-term trends show slight improvements, including a small decline in knife crime over the past year, the long-term picture remains troubling.

From BBC

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• cutter
• dagger
• machete
• scalpel
• sickle
• skewer
• sword