spear

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈspir 

1

: a thrusting or throwing weapon with long shaft and sharp head or blade

2

: a sharp-pointed instrument with barbs used in spearing fish

3

: something (such as a shoot of asparagus) resembling a spear

4

: spearman

spear

2 of 5

verb (1)

speared; spearing; spears

transitive verb

1

: to pierce, strike, or take with or as if with a spear

spear salmon

speared a chop from the platter

2

: to catch (something, such as a baseball) with a sudden thrust of the arm

3

a

ice hockey : to jab (an opposing player) with the blade of one's stick

All game, the Caps held, hooked, slashed, speared, chopped, and bopped … the Rangers' European players.

—Stu Hackel

b

American football : to ram (an opposing player) with one's helmet

… defensive end Ben Davidson set off a sidelines-clearing scrum when he speared Dawson from behind after he was down.

—Jim Trotter

intransitive verb

: to thrust at or wound something with or as if with a spear

spearer noun

spear

3 of 5

adjective

: paternal sense 3

the spear side of the family

compare distaff

spear

4 of 5

verb (2)

speared; spearing; spears

intransitive verb

of a plant

: to thrust a spear upward

spear

5 of 5

noun (2)

: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)

Synonyms of spear

Noun (1)

• javelin
• lance

Verb (1)

• stab
• pierce
• puncture
• jab
• pick
• stick
• lance

Examples of spear in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the Roman gladiator thrust his spear triumphantly into the lion's side

Verb (1)

she speared a pea with her fork and angrily flung it

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Castle is the spear of San Antonio’s resistance, and his spirit is central to the Spurs handling the pressure and weight of the playoffs thus far. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 22 May 2026

Asparagus spears are harvested toward the end of spring, but the feathery foliage of perennial asparagus plants are typically left in place during the summer and fall to allow the plant to continue to photosynthesize. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026

Verb

Remove speared fish from the water or tow them a safe distance behind you. —ABC News, 26 May 2026

However, Hathaway was pulled in front of Wheeler at the last second and he was speared through the table instead. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English spere, from Old English; akin to Old High German sper spear, Latin sparus hunting spear

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

alteration of spire entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1573, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1647, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spear

• spear-carrier
• spear-phishing
• spear-thrower

Rhymes for spear

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear

Kids Definition

spear

1 of 3 noun

ˈspi(ə)r 

1

: a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade used for throwing or jabbing

2

: an instrument with a sharp point and curved hooks used in spearing fish

3

: spearman

spear

2 of 3 verb

: to pierce or strike with or as if with a spear

spearer noun

spear

3 of 3 noun

: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)