knife

1 of 2

noun

ˈnīf 

plural knives ˈnīvz 

often attributive

1

a

: a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle

b

: a weapon or tool resembling a knife

2

: a sharp cutting blade or tool in a machine

3

: surgery sense 4

—usually used in the phrase under the knife

knifelike

ˈnīf-ˌlīk 

adjective

knife

2 of 2

verb

knifed; knifing

transitive verb

1

: to use a knife on

specifically : to stab, slash, or wound with a knife

2

: to cut, mark, or spread with a knife

3

: to try to defeat by underhanded means

4

: to move like a knife in

birds knifing the autumn sky

intransitive verb

: to cut a way with or as if with a knife blade

the cruiser knifed through the heavy seas

Synonyms

Noun

• blade
• cutter
• shank [slang]
• shiv [slang]

Examples of knife in a Sentence

Noun

Each dinner guest gets two forks, a knife, and a spoon.

He pulled a knife on me and threatened to stab me with it.

Verb

He died after being knifed in the chest.

ships knifing through the waves

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ammon lays it in his palm to circle with a knife, handing half to me and eating the other. —Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024

Republicans' narrow majority in the House of Representatives enters Tuesday on the knife's edge, with both parties possessing paths to control in the next Congress. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

Our 16-foot skiff knifed out of Winchester Bay, on the Oregon coast 200 miles south of Astoria, an hour before noon on June 23, 1964, with four aboard, headed for the salmon grounds outside the bar, the 40-horsepower outboard leaving a clean, white wake. —Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024

After railing against Harper all season for her lack of moral compass, Eric has sold out more completely than his ex-mentee ever has, knifing his terminally ill friend Bill Adler (Trevor White) in the back in return for a $20 million buyout and indefinite unemployment. —Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English knif, from Old English cnīf, perhaps from Old Norse knīfr; akin to Middle Low German knīf knife

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1865, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing knife

• bowie knife
• butter knife
• carving knife
• case knife
• chef's knife
• clasp knife
• flick-knife
• going under the knife
• go under the knife
• knife-edge
• like a (hot) knife through butter
• on a/the knife-edge
• palette knife
• paper knife
• paring knife
• putty knife
• sheath knife
• so thick you could cut it with a knife
• steak knife
• switch knife
• twist/turn the knife (in the wound)
• utility knife
• you could cut it with a knife

Kids Definition

knife

1 of 2 noun

ˈnīf 

plural knives ˈnīvz 

1

: a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle

2

: a cutting blade in a machine

knife

2 of 2 verb

knifed; knifing

1

: to stab, slash, or wound with a knife

2

: to move like a knife

ships knifing through the sea

Medical Definition

knife

noun

ˈnīf 

plural knives ˈnīvz 

1

: any of various instruments used in surgery primarily to sever tissues: as

a

: a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade attached to a handle

b

: an instrument that cuts by means of an electric current

2

: surgery sense 3

—usually used in the phrase under the knife

went under the knife yesterday

was afraid of the knife