spear

¹ American  

[speer] / spɪər /

noun

1. a long, stabbing weapon for thrusting or throwing, consisting of a wooden shaft to which a sharp-pointed head, as of iron or steel, is attached.

2. a soldier or other person armed with such a weapon; spearman.

   an army of 40,000 spears.

3. a similar weapon or stabbing implement, as one for use in fishing.

4. the act of spearing.

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adjective

1. spear side.

verb (used with object)

1. to pierce with or as with a spear.

verb (used without object)

1. to go or penetrate like a spear.

   The plane speared through the clouds.

spear ² American  

[speer] / spɪər /

noun

1. a sprout or shoot of a plant, as a blade of grass or an acrospire of grain.

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verb (used without object)

1. to sprout; shoot; send up or rise in a spear or spears.

spear ¹ British  

/ spɪə /

noun

1. a weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharp pointed end of metal, stone, or wood that may be thrown or thrust

2. a similar implement used to catch fish

3. another name for spearman

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verb

1. to pierce (something) with or as if with a spear

spear ² British  

/ spɪə /

noun

1. a shoot, slender stalk, or blade, as of grass, asparagus, or broccoli

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Other Word Forms

• spearer noun

Etymology

Origin of spear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spere, sper(re), Old English spere; cognate with Dutch, German speer

Origin of spear²

First recorded in 1640–50; variant of spire ¹, perhaps influenced by spear ¹

Explanation

A spear consists of a long shaft that has a sharp point at one end. You might use one to go spear fishing, but that's about it. Spears are no longer the weapon of choice. Spear also refers to the action of impaling something or someone with a spear. “Odysseus blinded the Cyclops by jamming a huge spear into its eye.” In addition to the long-shafted, pointy spear that people throw, spear is the name for the sprout of a plant. In the vegetable world, separate stalks of asparagus are called spears.

Example Sentences

Most importantly sharpening the tip of the spear — get the offensive line right.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

The Wisconsin locals trying to spear a 200-pound fish.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026

Russia's forces have recently gained limited control over a spear of land to the south of Vovchansk that would bring them closer to this target.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

They mouth thank you as they spear a noodle one-handed, already fielding another call from the office.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

The average ancient forager could turn a flint stone into a spear point within minutes.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• dart
• harpoon
• skewer