knife

[ nahyf ]

/ naɪf /

SEE 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.

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.

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.

Idioms for knife

under the knife, in surgery; undergoing a medical operation: The patient was under the knife for four hours.

Origin of knife

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

OTHER WORDS FROM knife

knife·like, adjective knif·er, noun

Words nearby knife

knickers, knickknack, knickpoint, knies, kniest syndrome, knife, knife box, knife edge, knife grinder, knife pleat, knife rest

Example sentences from the Web for knife

I took out my knife, my Ka-Bar, and knocked his teeth out, but they fell into his throat.

The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile |Robert Ward |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
But in the next instant, Peters is stepping back to the table and snatching up the knife.

Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill |Michael Daly |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“Stand the f--- away from the knife right now, man,” the cop says.

Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill |Michael Daly |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The cop then says, “Put the knife on the table right there.”

Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill |Michael Daly |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The cop reholsters his gun, and it seems to have ended with no further bloodshed as he moves to retrieve the knife.

Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill |Michael Daly |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The trunk or branch is cut off; two cions are inserted in a cleft made with a knife.

The Apple-Tree |L. H. Bailey
I drew my knife, and then everything got dark, and the next thing I knew I was in the police-station.

McAllister and His Double |Arthur Train
Another form of knife suitable for paring the edges of leather is shown at fig. 60, B.

Bookbinding, and the Care of Books |Douglas Cockerell
The knife was uplifted as the mate felt the grip of the man upon his collar, but the blow was not struck.

Ralph Granger's Fortunes |William Perry Brown
The knife missed the lung by half a centimeter,—cursed be the devil!

The Mystery of the Lost Dauphin |Emilia Pardo Bazn

British Dictionary definitions for knife

knife

/ (naɪf) /

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

verb (tr)

to cut, stab, or kill with a knife

to betray, injure, or depose in an underhand way

Derived forms of knife

knifelike, adjective knifer, noun

Word Origin for knife

Old English cnīf; related to Old Norse knīfr, Middle Low German knīf

Idioms and Phrases with knife

knife

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

knife

noun, plural knives [nahyvz] /naɪvz/.

verb (used with object), knifed, knif·ing.

verb (used without object), knifed, knif·ing.

Idioms for knife

Origin of knife

OTHER WORDS FROM knife

Words nearby knife

Example sentences from the Web for knife

British Dictionary definitions for knife

noun plural knives (naɪvz)

verb (tr)

Derived forms of knife

Word Origin for knife

Idioms and Phrases with knife

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

knife

noun, plural knives [nahyvz] /naɪvz/.

verb (used with object), knifed, knif·ing.

verb (used without object), knifed, knif·ing.

Idioms for knife

Origin of knife

OTHER WORDS FROM knife

Words nearby knife

Words related to knife

Example sentences from the Web for knife

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for knife

noun plural knives (naɪvz)

verb (tr)

Derived forms of knife

Word Origin for knife

Idioms and Phrases with knife

British Dictionary definitions for knife