English Meaning & Definitions
An instrument or tool with a cutting edge or blade, usually fixed in a handle, used for cutting or as a weapon.
- “She used a sharp paring knife to peel the apples for the pie.”
- “The hiker always carried a multi-purpose pocket knife for emergencies.”
To stab, cut, or wound someone with a knife; or to move through something with a sharp, quick motion.
- “The sailboat knifed through the calm waters of the bay.”
- “He was charged with assault after attempting to knife the guard.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “knife”.
Derived from the Old English 'cnīf', which comes from a Proto-Germanic root. It is related to the Old Norse 'knífr' and Middle Dutch 'cnijf'. The word originally referred to a simple cutting tool and has remained remarkably stable in meaning over a millennium, though the initial 'k' sound became silent in English around the 17th century.
The 'k' is silent, just like a ninja sneaking up with a knife.
Frequently Asked Questions About “knife”
1. What is the meaning of “knife” in English?
In English, knife (noun) is defined as: “An instrument or tool with a cutting edge or blade, usually fixed in a handle, used for cutting or as a weapon.”.
2. How do you use “knife” in a sentence?
“She used a sharp paring knife to peel the apples for the pie.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “knife”?
Derived from the Old English 'cnīf', which comes from a Proto-Germanic root. It is related to the Old Norse 'knífr' and Middle Dutch 'cnijf'. The word originally referred to a simple cutting tool and has remained remarkably stable in meaning over a millennium, though the initial 'k' sound became silent in English around the 17th century.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.