noun Uncommon

spade

spayd

Spade (noun) means a hand tool with a flat blade and a handle, used for digging. Example: “He grabbed a spade to dig up the old rose bush.”

noun

A hand tool with a flat blade and a handle, used for digging.

"He grabbed a spade to dig up the old rose bush."

"She used the spade to turn over the soil before planting."

A playing card marked with the black symbol shaped like a stylized leaf (♠).

"He led with the ace of spades to win the trick."

verb

To dig or turn over ground using a spade.

"They spent Saturday spading the vegetable patch."

How to use spade

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA digging tool with a flat blade, or one of the four card suits.

Common mistake

A spade has a flatter, straighter blade for cutting into soil; a shovel has a curved scoop for moving loose material. Also note: "spade" as a slur for a Black person is offensive and should be avoided entirely.

Common pairings

dig with a spade ace of spades call a spade a spade

Word forms

spaded past tense, spades plural, spades plural, Spades plural, spades singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He grabbed a _____ to dig up the old rose bush.

Etymology

From Old English spada, going back to a Proto-Germanic root also seen in the fencing term "spatha."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for spade

Ade made jade wade fade sade Bade Cade Dade trade blade shade

See all rhymes for spade →

Frequently asked questions

What does “spade” mean?

The word “spade” means a hand tool with a flat blade and a handle, used for digging. In plain terms, a digging tool with a flat blade, or one of the four card suits.

How do you pronounce “spade”?

“Spade” is pronounced spayd (/speɪ̯d/ in IPA).

How do you use “spade” in a sentence?

Here is “spade” used in a sentence: “He grabbed a spade to dig up the old rose bush.”

What part of speech is “spade”?

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

Where does the word “spade” come from?

The word “spade” comes from Old English. From Old English spada, going back to a Proto-Germanic root also seen in the fencing term "spatha.".

Is “spade” a common word?

“Spade” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “spade” have?

“Spade” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hand tool with a flat blade and a handle, used for digging.