knife Hear it!

knife definition

knife (nīf)

noun pl. knives

  1. a cutting or stabbing instrument with a sharp blade, single-edged or double-edged, set in a handle
  2. a cutting blade, as in a machine

Etymology: ME knif < OE cnif, akin to Ger kneif, ON knīfr < IE *gneibh- (> Lith gnaibis, a pinching): for base see knead

transitive verb knifed, knifing knif′·ing

  1. to cut or stab with a knife
  2. ☆ Informal to use underhanded methods in order to hurt, defeat, or betray

intransitive verb

to pass into or through something quickly, like a sharp knife

Related Forms:

knife Idioms

under the knife

☆
Informal undergoing surgery

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.