knife

Pluralknives

Formsknifes, knifing, knifed

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A tool or weapon consisting of a sharp blade, usually of steel, fixed in a handle, used for cutting or stabbing.

   The chef sharpened his knife before slicing the salmon.

   Hikers often carry a folding knife for cutting rope and preparing food on the trail.

   UsageThe plural is knives (not incorrect: knifes). You cut something with a knife.

   Similarblade

2. 2
   machine bladenouncountable

   A blade-like part of a tool or machine designed for cutting, such as the cutting element of a wood chipper.

   The mower's knife had bent after striking a rock hidden in the grass.

   Technicians inspect the chipper knives weekly for cracks and dull edges.

   Similarblade, cutter

3. 3
   stabverbtransitive

   To injure or kill someone by stabbing or slashing them with a knife used as a weapon.

   Witnesses said the attacker knifed two people before fleeing the scene.

   Prison gangs sometimes knife informers to keep other inmates silent.

   UsageOften passive with in: he was knifed in the arm. Stab is the more common word.

   Similarstab, slash

   Note

   The active verb has a long history too. The Foreign Quarterly Review of 1843 drives it home by repetition: he knifed the sergeant, he knifed the privates, he knifed until he was overpowered. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • The reproduced passage includes 'finally' before 'overpowered' and separates the repeated clauses with colons. en.wiktionary.org

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