noun
lance
lahns
noun
1
A long spear, traditionally carried by a mounted soldier or knight.
"The knight lowered his lance and charged."
verb
1
To cut open, especially a boil or abscess, with a sharp instrument to drain it.
"The nurse had to lance the infected wound."
How to Use Lance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA long spear used by mounted soldiers, or (as a verb) to pierce and drain something like a boil.
Common pairings
lance a boil
jousting lance
Word Forms
lanced past tense, lances plural, Lances plural, lances singular
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The knight lowered his _____ and charged.
Etymology
From Old French lance, from Latin lancea, a word for a light spear.