\ ˈnīf
\
\
plural knives\ ˈnīvz
\
\
Definition of knife
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: 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
knife
verb
knifed;
knifing
Definition of knife (Entry 2 of 2)
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
: to cut a way with or as if with a knife blade
the cruiser knifed through the heavy seas
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Other Words from knife
Noun
knifelike
\ ˈnīf-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms for knife
Synonyms: Noun
blade, cutter, shank [slang], shiv [slang]
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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
Youmans was also carrying a folding knife and burglary tools, police said. — Emily Brindley, courant.com, "Coventry woman barricades herself into room during burglary," 11 Aug. 2019 Once, Henriquez, his mother and his father were chased by a man brandishing a knife and vowing to kill them. — Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, "This 19-year-old wants to become the D.C. Council’s first Latino member," 10 Aug. 2019 Whitney told reporters a bakery also was robbed where Castaneda allegedly threatened a clerk with either a gun or a knife and took cash. — Fox News, "California gang member in custody after stabbing, robbery spree that killed 4, wounded 2," 9 Aug. 2019 With a knife, score an X on the bottom of each tomato and submerge in boiling water for about 30 seconds. — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Corn and tomatoes: The local sweet season has started," 9 Aug. 2019 The 33-year-old Garden Grove man was taken into custody after dropping a knife and a gun, authorities said. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "4 dead, 2 wounded in Orange County stabbings," 7 Aug. 2019 At the Carmelite convent and the Abbaye jail in Paris, the crowd killed the priests, after summary judgment, with swords, knives, and clubs. — Christopher Ketcham, Harper's magazine, "A Play with No End," 22 July 2019 Deputies searched Haynes and found the knife and $74.69 of merchandise from the store. — Ivana Hrynkiw | Ihrynkiw@al.com, al.com, "Man, armed with knife, charged with Center Point robbery," 20 July 2019 If Dosouqi is convicted of first-degree murder with enhancements for using a knife and multiple murder counts, prosecutors could ask for the death penalty. — Gwendolyn Wu, SFChronicle.com, "Pacifica man charged in fatal back-road stabbings might not be fit for trial," 17 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
During a news conference, the commander provided some of the first details about the encounter early Friday in which Deputy Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was knifed 11 times. — Washington Post, "Italy: Slain police officer didn’t have gun when stabbed," 31 July 2019 Investigators allege Elder knifed the policeman during a struggle after Cerciello Rega and his partner, both plainclothes officers, identified themselves as police. — CBS News, "American teen held in Italian officer's deadly stabbing may have been blindfolded by police during interrogation," 28 July 2019 Investigators allege Elder knifed the policeman during a struggle after Cerciello Rega and his partner, both plainclothes officers, identified themselves as police. — Frances D'emilio, Houston Chronicle, "Italy: Teen held in officer's death 'illegally blindfolded'," 28 July 2019 One man, 75, was stabbed in the neck and another, 77, was knifed in the back, authorities said. — NBC News, "Man goes on stabbing spree, strips off clothes in downtown Seattle attack," 9 July 2019 Trish, cornered, goes to fatally knife Jessica in order to escape. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Don't Have Time To Watch Jessica Jones Season 3? This Is How It Ends," 15 June 2019 The news is filled with scary stories, like a tourist bus being bombed near Egypt’s pyramids, people being knifed at a bus stop in Japan, and continuing coverage of the two Boeing 737 Max air crashes, both of which happened overseas. — Jay L. Zagorsky, Quartz, "It’s more dangerous to live in America than to travel abroad," 12 June 2019 Anna Huynh and her husband, John Yap, knifed through the final course of the evening: Palestinian chicken qidra, a traditional dish served alongside basmati rice with chickpeas, herbs and spices. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Must Reads: At this L.A. supper club, refugees share food and memories of the lives they left behind," 31 May 2019 An uptick in knifing and homemade bomb attacks, blamed on Uighur militants, happened in China in 2014. — Eva Dou, WSJ, "China’s Muslim Crackdown Extends to Those Living Abroad," 31 Aug. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knife.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for knife
knife
noun
English Language Learners Definition of knife
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a usually sharp blade attached to a handle that is used for cutting or as a weapon
knife
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of knife (Entry 2 of 2)
: to injure (someone) with a knife
: to move easily and quickly like a knife cutting through something
See the full definition for knife in the English Language Learners Dictionary
knife
noun
\ ˈnīf
\
\
plural knives\ ˈnīvz \