knife
[noun]
Synonyms:
- blade, cutter
[verb]
Synonyms:
- cut, lacerate, pierce, slash, stab, wound

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. knife¹ S3 W3 /naɪf/ noun (plural knives /naɪvz/) [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: cnif]

1. a metal blade fixed into a handle, used for cutting or as a weapon ⇒ scalpel:
a knife and fork
Some young people are carrying knives to defend themselves.
a kitchen knife
Use a sharp knife to cut the melon into sections. ⇒ carving knife, flick knife, palette knife, paper knife, penknife

2. the knives are out (for somebody) informal used to say that people are being extremely unfriendly in criticizing someone:
The knives are out for the vice president.

3. twist/turn the knife (in the wound) to say something that makes someone more upset about a subject they are already unhappy about

4. stick/put etc the knife in/into someone British English informal to dislike someone and be very unfriendly towards them

5. under the knife informal having a medical operation

6. you could cut the atmosphere/air/tension with a knife used to say that you felt the people in a room were angry with each other

7. like a (hot) knife through butter informal used to say that something happens or is done very easily, without any problems

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. knife² verb [transitive]
to put a knife into someone’s body Synonym : stab:
She had been knifed to death.
—knifing noun [countable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

knife
noun
I. tool for cutting
ADJ. blunt, sharp | long | bone, bone-handled, silver, steel | bread, butcher's, carving, craft, fish, flick, hunting, kitchen, palette, pocket, sheath, Stanley(R), surgeon's, table
QUANT. set a set of kitchen knives
VERB + KNIFE pick up She picked up her knife and fork and started to eat.
lay down, put down | use Use a sharp knife to cut away the spare pastry.
sharpen | hold
KNIFE + VERB cut That knife doesn't cut very well?it needs sharpening.
clatter
KNIFE + NOUN blade, handle
PREP. with a/the ~ The lines can be cut with a craft knife.
PHRASES the blade of a knife, the handle of a knife, a knife and fork

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

knife
II. used as a weapon
ADJ. long, sharp
VERB + KNIFE be armed with, carry, have She carries a knife in her bag now.
brandish, wield | draw (out), produce, pull (out), take out He suddenly pulled a knife on me.
come at sb with, stab sb with, threaten sb with She stabbed him in the back with a 12-inch knife.
plunge, push, put, stick He plunged the knife deep into her heart.
sharpen, whet
KNIFE + VERB cut | clatter As he fell, the knife clattered to the floor.
KNIFE + NOUN attack a frenzied knife attack
wound | blade
PREP. with a/the ~
PHRASES the blade of a knife, the hilt of a knife, hold a knife against/at/to sb's throat, a knife in sb's heart (figurative) Each word he uttered was a knife in her heart.
put a knife to sb's throat She put the knife to his throat to frighten him into silence.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

knife

sharp
Be careful using that knife - it's very sharp.
blunt (=not sharp)
The knife was so blunt it wouldn't cut anything.
a bread knife
Will you pass me the bread knife?
a kitchen knife (=a long knife used for cutting vegetables etc)
Every chef has his own set of kitchen knives.
a carving knife (=for cutting meat)
Dad always used to sharpen the carving knife.
a pocket knife (=a small knife that you carry with you)
He was armed with nothing but a pocket knife.
a knife wound
She died from a single knife wound.
a knife attack
He was sentenced to 9 years in prison for a knife attack.
knife crime (=crimes in which people are attacked with knives)
Knife crime is on the increase.
the blade of a knife
The blade of the knife cut cleanly through the rope.
the handle of a knife
His hand reached down to the handle of his knife.
carry a knife (=have it with you)
The campaign warns young people about the dangers of carrying knives.
be armed with a knife (=have it with you)
One of the men was armed with a knife.
hold a knife
In his hand, he held a long knife.
threaten somebody with a knife
The girls were threatened with a knife.
brandish/wield a knife (=wave it around in a threatening way)
A man brandishing a knife burst into the room.
sharpen a knife (=make it sharper)
What's the best way to sharpen a knife?

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲