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

Warren was found guilty of owning or being in charge of Bear and possessing a knife at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday.

From BBC

But here’s the thing: there are nights when you don’t have the spoons to deal with a knife.

From Salon

“Whatever asset you’re looking at people are on a knife’s edge regarding leverage and that doesn’t have to go bad; that can go very very well before it goes very, very bad,” he said.

From MarketWatch

Investors, for now, remain hesitant to catch any particular falling knife.

From Barron's

Skaters spin four times in the air and land on a pair of knives.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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