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."
"After some hours of intense work, we had macheted a path through the jungle to the bank of the river."
How to use machete
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA long, heavy blade used for chopping through plants or as a rough weapon.
Common pairings
swing a machete
machete blade
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Word forms
- Plural
- machetes
- Third person singular
- machetes
- Past tense
- macheted
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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."
Synonyms
View more →
panga
matchet
Related words
Rhymes for machete
See all rhymes for machete →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.
