knife

noun, plural knives [nahyvz] /naɪvz/.

1. an instrument for cutting, consisting essentially of a thin, sharp-edged, metal blade fitted with a handle.
2. a knifelike weapon; dagger or short sword.
3. any blade for cutting, as in a tool or machine.

verb (used with object), knifed, knif·ing.

4. to apply a knife to; cut, stab, etc., with a knife.
5. to attempt to defeat or undermine in a secret or underhanded way.

verb (used without object), knifed, knif·ing.

6. to move or cleave through something with or as if with a knife: The ship knifed through the heavy seas.

Idioms

7. under the knife, in surgery; undergoing a medical operation: The patient was under the knife for four hours.

noun plural knives (naɪvz)

1. a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp-edged often pointed blade of metal fitted into a handle or onto a machine
2. a similar instrument used as a weapon
3. have one’s knife in someone to have a grudge against or victimize someone
4. twist the knife to make a bad situation worse in a deliberately malicious way
5. the knives are out for someone British people are determined to harm or put a stop to someonethe knives are out for Stevens
6. under the knife undergoing a surgical operation

verb (tr)

7. to cut, stab, or kill with a knife
8. to betray, injure, or depose in an underhand way

n.

late Old English cnif, probably from Old Norse knifr, from Proto-Germanic *knibaz (cf. Middle Low German knif, Middle Dutch cnijf, German kneif), of uncertain origin. To further confuse the etymology, there also are forms in -p-, e.g. Dutch knijp, German kneip. French canif “penknife” (mid-15c.) is borrowed from Middle English or Norse.

v.

1865, from knife (n.). Related: Knifed; knifing.

see at gunpoint (knifepoint); under the knife; you could cut it with a knife.