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noun Uncommon

machete

muh-SHEH-tee

Machete (noun) means a broad, heavy knife used for cutting through thick vegetation or as a weapon. Example: “The guide used a machete to clear a path through the jungle.”

noun
1
A broad, heavy knife used for cutting through thick vegetation or as a weapon.
"The guide used a machete to clear a path through the jungle."
verb
1
To cut or hack at something with a machete.
"They machetead their way through the dense undergrowth."

How to use machete

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long, heavy blade used for chopping through plants or as a rough weapon.

Common pairings
swing a machete machete blade

Word forms

macheted past tense, machetes plural, machetes singular

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The guide used a _____ to clear a path through the jungle.

Etymology

From Spanish machete, a diminutive of macho ("sledgehammer"), ultimately from Latin — related to the English word "mace."

Origin: Latin

panga matchet

Related words

Rhymes for machete

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Frequently asked questions

What does “machete” mean?

The word “machete” means a broad, heavy knife used for cutting through thick vegetation or as a weapon. In plain terms, a long, heavy blade used for chopping through plants or as a rough weapon.

How do you pronounce “machete”?

“Machete” is pronounced muh-SHEH-tee (/məˈʃɛ.ti/ in IPA).

How do you use “machete” in a sentence?

Here is “machete” used in a sentence: “The guide used a machete to clear a path through the jungle.”

What part of speech is “machete”?

Depending on how it is used, “machete” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “machete” come from?

The word “machete” comes from Latin. From Spanish machete, a diminutive of macho ("sledgehammer"), ultimately from Latin — related to the English word "mace.".

Is “machete” a common word?

“Machete” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “machete” have?

“Machete” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a broad, heavy knife used for cutting through thick vegetation or as a weapon.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial