Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for knife on Thesaurus.com noun, plural knives [nahyvz] /naɪvz/ an instrument for cutting, consisting essentially of a thin, sharp-edged, metal blade fitted with a handle. a knifelike weapon; dagger or short sword. any blade for cutting, as in a tool or machine. Show More
verb (used with object), knifed, knif·ing. to apply a knife to; cut, stab, etc., with a knife. to attempt to defeat or undermine in a secret or underhanded way. Show More
verb (used without object), knifed, knif·ing. to move or cleave through something with or as if with a knife: The ship knifed through the heavy seas. Show More
under the knife , in surgery; undergoing a medical operation: The patient was under the knife for four hours. Show More
Origin of knife before 1100; Middle English knif, Old English cnīf; cognate with Dutch knijf, German Kneif, Old Norse knīfr
Related forms knife·like , adjective knif·er , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for knife bayonet ,
dagger ,
blade ,
sword ,
skewer ,
machete ,
sickle ,
cutter ,
scalpel ,
lance ,
steel ,
shank ,
point ,
edge ,
cutlass ,
sabre ,
switchblade ,
scythe ,
bolo ,
stiletto Examples from the Web for knife Contemporary Examples of knife I took out my knife , my Ka-Bar, and knocked his teeth out, but they fell into his throat.
But in the next instant, Peters is stepping back to the table and snatching up the knife .
“Stand the f--- away from the knife right now, man,” the cop says.
The cop then says, “Put the knife on the table right there.”
The cop reholsters his gun, and it seems to have ended with no further bloodshed as he moves to retrieve the knife .
Historical Examples of knife Fish called on Knife and told him that he did not care for money.
He made signs for me to give him the knife , but I could not, as we were very short of knives.
Knife , however, must promise to leave his land to his son-in-law in case he died.
It was brought—but, by order of the huissier, only one knife was placed on the table.
Cut deeper; the knife is too short: deeper, mia brave Corneliolina!
British Dictionary definitions for knife noun plural knives (naɪvz ) a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp-edged often pointed blade of metal fitted into a handle or onto a machine a similar instrument used as a weapon have one's knife in someone to have a grudge against or victimize someone twist the knife to make a bad situation worse in a deliberately malicious way the knives are out for someone British people are determined to harm or put a stop to someone the knives are out for Stevens under the knife undergoing a surgical operation Show More
to cut, stab, or kill with a knife to betray, injure, or depose in an underhand way Show More
Derived Forms knifelike , adjective knifer , noun Word Origin for knife Old English cnīf; related to Old Norse knīfr, Middle Low German knīf
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for knife n. late Old English cnif , probably from Old Norse knifr , from Proto-Germanic *knibaz (cf. Middle Low German knif , Middle Dutch cnijf , German kneif ), of uncertain origin. To further confuse the etymology, there also are forms in -p- , e.g. Dutch knijp , German kneip . French canif "penknife" (mid-15c.) is borrowed from Middle English or Norse.
Show More
v. 1865, from knife (n.). Related: Knifed ; knifing .
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with knife see at gunpoint (knifepoint); under the knife; you could cut it with a knife.
Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
