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

See Examples For:

spear

In one, it sat on a tiny plate beside a chilled vermouth cocktail garnished with a pearl onion on a spear.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

In full transparency, the top of my spear is happiness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Instead, Nolan balances religion on the spear tip of doubt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026

Hoping to catch Abel napping, the owl swept down from an old decayed tree—it seemed at home in rotten trees—but Abel had his spear at the ready the moment the owl reached him.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• dart
• harpoon
• skewer