knife
♦ knife /n'aɪf/ (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 of metal with a sharp edge on the end of a handle.
...a knife and fork...
Two robbers broke into her home, held a knife to her throat and stole her savings.
2 [VERB] V n prep
To knife someone means to attack and injure them with a knife.
Dawson takes revenge on the man by knifing him to death...
3 [N-COUNT]
A surgeon's knife is a piece of equipment used to cut flesh and organs during operations. It is made of metal and has a very thin sharp edge.
= scalpel
[PHRASE] PHR after v
If you go under the knife, you have an operation in a hospital.
Kelly was about to go under the knife when her surgeon stopped everything.
4
see also carving knife, fish knife, palette knife, palette knife, paper knife, pocket knife, Stanley knife
5 [PHRASE] knife inflects, PHR after v
If someone does something like a knife through butter or like a hot knife through butter, they do it very easily.
Spending by Japanese companies has left them more competitive than companies in other nations. They will be cutting through the competition like a hot knife through butter.
6 [PHRASE]
If you have been in a place where there was a very tense atmosphere, you can say that you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife. (mainly BRIT)
7 [PHRASE] V inflects, usu PHR for n
If a lot of people want something unpleasant to happen to someone, for example if they want them to lose their job, you can say that the knives are out for that person. (mainly BRIT)
The Party knives are out for the leader.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you twist the knife or if you turn the knife in someone's wound, you do or say something to make an unpleasant situation they are in even more unpleasant.
Travis twisted the knife by laughing at her...carv|ing knife (carving knives)
[N-COUNT]
A carving knife is a long sharp knife that is used to cut cooked meat.fish knife (fish knives)
[N-COUNT]
A fish knife is a knife that you use when you eat fish. It has a wide flat blade and does not have a sharp edge.pal|ette knife (palette knives)
[N-COUNT]
A palette knife is a knife with a broad, flat, flexible blade, used in cookery and in oil painting.pa|per knife (paper knives)
also paper-knife
[N-COUNT]
A paper knife is a tool shaped like a knife, which is used for opening envelopes.pock|et knife (pocket knives)
also pocketknife
[N-COUNT]
A pocket knife is a small knife with several blades which fold into the handle so that you can carry it around with you safely.
= penknifeStanley knife /st'ænli naɪf/ (Stanley knives)
[N-COUNT]
A Stanley knife is a very sharp knife that is used to cut materials such as carpet and paper. It consists of a small blade fixed in the end of a handle. (TRADEMARK)
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 of metal with a sharp edge on the end of a handle.
...a knife and fork...
Two robbers broke into her home, held a knife to her throat and stole her savings.
2 [VERB] V n prep
To knife someone means to attack and injure them with a knife.
Dawson takes revenge on the man by knifing him to death...
3 [N-COUNT]
A surgeon's knife is a piece of equipment used to cut flesh and organs during operations. It is made of metal and has a very thin sharp edge.
= scalpel
[PHRASE] PHR after v
If you go under the knife, you have an operation in a hospital.
Kelly was about to go under the knife when her surgeon stopped everything.
4
see also carving knife, fish knife, palette knife, palette knife, paper knife, pocket knife, Stanley knife
5 [PHRASE] knife inflects, PHR after v
If someone does something like a knife through butter or like a hot knife through butter, they do it very easily.
Spending by Japanese companies has left them more competitive than companies in other nations. They will be cutting through the competition like a hot knife through butter.
6 [PHRASE]
If you have been in a place where there was a very tense atmosphere, you can say that you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife. (mainly BRIT)
7 [PHRASE] V inflects, usu PHR for n
If a lot of people want something unpleasant to happen to someone, for example if they want them to lose their job, you can say that the knives are out for that person. (mainly BRIT)
The Party knives are out for the leader.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you twist the knife or if you turn the knife in someone's wound, you do or say something to make an unpleasant situation they are in even more unpleasant.
Travis twisted the knife by laughing at her...carv|ing knife (carving knives)
[N-COUNT]
A carving knife is a long sharp knife that is used to cut cooked meat.fish knife (fish knives)
[N-COUNT]
A fish knife is a knife that you use when you eat fish. It has a wide flat blade and does not have a sharp edge.pal|ette knife (palette knives)
[N-COUNT]
A palette knife is a knife with a broad, flat, flexible blade, used in cookery and in oil painting.pa|per knife (paper knives)
also paper-knife
[N-COUNT]
A paper knife is a tool shaped like a knife, which is used for opening envelopes.pock|et knife (pocket knives)
also pocketknife
[N-COUNT]
A pocket knife is a small knife with several blades which fold into the handle so that you can carry it around with you safely.
= penknifeStanley knife /st'ænli naɪf/ (Stanley knives)
[N-COUNT]
A Stanley knife is a very sharp knife that is used to cut materials such as carpet and paper. It consists of a small blade fixed in the end of a handle. (TRADEMARK)