Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Knife — (n[imac]f), n.; pl. {Knives} (n[imac]vz). [OE. knif, AS. cn[=i]f; akin to D. knijf, Icel. kn[=i]fr, Sw. knif, Dan. kniv.] 1. An instrument consisting of a thin blade, usually of steel and having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened to a handle, but … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
knife — ► NOUN (pl. knives) 1) a cutting instrument consisting of a blade fixed into a handle. 2) a cutting blade on a machine. ► VERB 1) stab with a knife. 2) cut like a knife. ● at knifepoint … English terms dictionary
Knife — Knife, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Knifed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Knifing}.] 1. (Hort.) To prune with the knife. [1913 Webster] 2. To cut or stab with a knife. [Low] [1913 Webster] 3. Fig.: To stab in the back; to try to defeat by underhand means, esp. in… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
knife — knife; knife·ful; knife·less; knife·man; … English syllables
knife — [nīf] n. pl. knives [ME knif < OE cnif, akin to Ger kneif, ON knīfr < IE * gneibh (> Lith gnaibis, a pinching): for base see KNEAD] 1. a cutting or stabbing instrument with a sharp blade, single edged or double edged, set in a handle 2.… … English World dictionary
knife — [n] cutting tool bayonet, blade, bolo, cutlass, cutter, cutting edge, dagger, edge, lance, lancet, machete, point, ripper, sabre, scalpel, scimitar, scythe, shank, shiv, sickle, skewer, skiver, steel, stiletto, switchblade, sword, tickler;… … New thesaurus
knife — index lancinate, pierce (lance) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
knife — The plural form of the noun is knives, but the inflected forms of the verb are knifes, knifed, knifing … Modern English usage
Knife — A knife is a handheld sharp edged instrument consisting of handle attached to a blade used for cutting. The knife is a tool that can be used as a weapon. Its origins date as far back as two and a half million years ago, as evidenced by the… … Wikipedia
knife — noun 1 tool for cutting ADJECTIVE ▪ blunt, dull (esp. AmE) ▪ sharp ▪ serrated ▪ long ▪ small … Collocations dictionary
knife — [[t]na͟ɪf[/t]] ♦♦♦ knives, knifes, knifing, knifed (knives is the plural form of the noun and knifes is the third person singular of the present tense of the verb.) 1) N COUNT A knife is a tool for cutting or a weapon and consists of a flat piece … English dictionary
