knife
NYF
Knife (noun) means a tool with a flat, usually metal blade sharpened along one edge and fixed to a handle, used for cutting. Example: “She sliced the bread with a bread knife.”
noun
1
A tool with a flat, usually metal blade sharpened along one edge and fixed to a handle, used for cutting.
"She sliced the bread with a bread knife."
"Always keep your kitchen knives sharp — a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one."
"He spread butter on his toast with a blunt knife."
verb
1
To stab or cut someone with a knife.
"The film showed a thief who knifed a guard and ran off."
"Two people were knifed outside the club, according to the report."
"He was knifed in the arm during the scuffle."
2
To betray someone, especially a political ally.
"Party insiders accused him of knifing his own leader before the vote."
"She felt he had knifed her by telling the boss about her plan."
"Nobody expected him to knife his old friend in front of the whole team."
How to use knife
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bladed cutting tool, or, as a verb, to stab someone — or, figuratively, to betray them.
Common pairings
a sharp knife
knife someone
knife and fork
a kitchen knife
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Word forms
- Plural
- knives
- Third person singular
- knifes
- Past tense
- knifed
- Noun form
- knyfe
- Verb form
- knive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sliced the bread with a bread _____.
Etymology
From Old Norse knífr, related to a Germanic root meaning "to pinch."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for knife
See all rhymes for knife →Frequently asked questions
What does “knife” mean?
The word “knife” means a tool with a flat, usually metal blade sharpened along one edge and fixed to a handle, used for cutting. In plain terms, a bladed cutting tool, or, as a verb, to stab someone — or, figuratively, to betray them.
How do you pronounce “knife”?
“Knife” is pronounced NYF (/ˈnaɪ̯f/ in IPA).
How do you use “knife” in a sentence?
Here is “knife” used in a sentence: “She sliced the bread with a bread knife.”
What part of speech is “knife”?
Depending on how it is used, “knife” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “knife” come from?
The word “knife” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse knífr, related to a Germanic root meaning "to pinch.".
Is “knife” a common word?
“Knife” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “knife” have?
“Knife” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tool with a flat, usually metal blade sharpened along one edge and fixed to a handle, used for cutting.
What is the difference between a knife and a dagger?
A knife is a general cutting tool, usually with a single sharpened edge and a huge range of everyday uses. A dagger is a weapon: it typically has two sharpened edges and a sharp point, built for stabbing and thrusting. Every dagger is a knife, but most knives are not daggers.
What are the parts of a knife?
A knife has two main sections: the blade and the handle. On the blade are the sharpened edge, the flat side, the spine, and the point or tip. Where blade meets handle there is often a bolster, and the tang is the part of the blade that extends into the handle.
What are the main types of knives?
Knives are designed for their job. Kitchen knives include the chef's knife, paring knife, and bread knife. Everyday and outdoor types include the pocket knife, utility knife, and hunting knife. There are also specialist blades such as the cleaver and the carving knife, each shaped for a particular kind of cutting.
What is the plural of knife?
The plural of knife is knives. English changes the final 'fe' to 'ves' in several common nouns, so one knife becomes two knives, just as life becomes lives and wife becomes wives. The spelling 'knifes' is generally used only as a verb form, not for the plural noun.
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