sickle

1 of 3

noun

sick·​le ˈsi-kəl 

1

: an agricultural implement consisting of a curved metal blade with a short handle fitted on a tang

2

: the cutting mechanism (as of a reaper, combine, or mower) consisting of a bar with a series of cutting elements

Illustration of sickle

• sickle 1

sickle

2 of 3

adjective

: having the form of a sickle blade : having a curve similar to that of a sickle blade

the sickle moon

sickle

3 of 3

verb

sickled; sickling ˈsi-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to mow or reap with a sickle

2

: to change (a red blood cell) into a sickle cell

intransitive verb

: to change into a sickle cell

the ability of red blood cells to sickle

Examples of sickle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Indeed, a trip up the hill to cut grass by hand using sickles is the first stage of any thatching workshop. —The Week Uk, theweek, 6 Oct. 2024

In patients with sickle cell, the namesake cells form when mutant hemoglobin proteins clump together into fibers, deforming red blood cells’ usual saucer shape into a curved sickle, which prevents them from effectively delivering oxygen to tissues. —Sara Reardon, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Adjective

The sickle, the padlock and certain types of wood found at the grave site were all believed at the time to hold magical properties protecting against vampires, according to the Nicolaus Copernicus team. —Reuters, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

Cells with this kind of hemoglobin resist sickling—an explanation for why newborns with the illness do not experience sickle crises. —Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Verb

Cells with this kind of hemoglobin resist sickling—an explanation for why newborns with the illness do not experience sickle crises. —Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Restricting Black participation in the medical profession deprived sickle cell patients of health-care workers who would have best understood their needs and may have contributed to the maligning of people experiencing sickling crises as addicts faking pain to obtain opioids. —Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sikel, from Old English sicol, from Latin secula sickle, from secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1688, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing sickle

• hammer and sickle
• sickle cell
• sickle cell anemia
• sickle-cell trait

Kids Definition

sickle

1 of 2 noun

sick·​le ˈsik-əl 

: a tool with a sharp curved metal blade and a short handle used to cut grass

sickle

2 of 2 verb

sickled; sickling

ˈsik-(ə-)liŋ

: to change into a sickle cell

the ability of red blood cells to sickle

Medical Definition

sickle

1 of 3 noun

sick·​le ˈsik-əl 

: a dental scaler with a curved 3-sided point

sickle

2 of 3 adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of sickle cell anemia or sickle-cell trait

sickle hemoglobin

sickle

3 of 3 verb

sickled; sickling ˈsik-(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to change (a red blood cell) into a sickle cell

intransitive verb

: to undergo change into a sickle cell

the ability of red blood cells to sickle