knife

[ nahyf ]
/ naɪf /

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

British Dictionary definitions for under the knife

knife
/ (naɪf) /

noun plural knives (naɪvz)

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 under the knife (1 of 2)

under the knife

Undergoing surgery, as in He was awake the entire time he was under the knife. The phrase is often put as go under the knife meaning “be operated on,” as in When do you go under the knife? Knife standing for “surgery” was first recorded in 1880.

Idioms and Phrases with under the knife (2 of 2)

knife

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