knife

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A tool or weapon with a sharp metal blade fixed into a handle, used for cutting food, materials, or, in some contexts, harming people.

   Grammar: Countable with irregular plural knives; add the plural -s only to regular uses like pocketknife.

   Patterns

   • a sharp knife
   • kitchen knife
   • a knife and fork

   Use a serrated knife to cut the bread.

   The surgeon asked for a smaller knife.

2. 2verbtransitivedisapproving

   To injure someone with a knife, or figuratively to betray or attack them suddenly and severely.

   Grammar: Takes a direct object; the figurative use often appears in the phrase knife someone in the back.

   Patterns

   • knife someone
   • be knifed
   • knife someone in the back

   One bystander was knifed during the robbery and survived.

   Critics said the senator had knifed his ally in the back.

Word forms

Common combinations

sharp knife

A sharp knife is safer than a dull one because it slips less.

kitchen knife

She reached for a kitchen knife to slice the tomatoes.

pocketknife

He kept a small pocketknife for opening boxes.

knife wound

The knife wound required several stitches.

at knifepoint

The cashier was threatened at knifepoint.

Synonyms and how they differ

blade

The cutting part itself; a knife is the whole tool or weapon including a handle.

cutter

A broader tool name; less specific and often mechanical or designed for a task.

dagger

A weapon designed mainly for stabbing, usually shorter and double-edged unlike many knives.

Word family

knives noun

Irregular plural of knife.

knifelike adjective

Sharp or cutting, like a knife; often figurative for pain.

Commonly confused: knife or knive?

Practice

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