sword
noun /sɔːd/
/sɔːrd/
Idioms - a weapon with a long metal blade (= sharp cutting part) and a handle
enlarge image- to draw/sheathe a sword (= to take it out of/put it into its cover)
Extra ExamplesTopics Historyc1, War and conflictc1- I thrust my sword into his chest.
- the sword of justice
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- sharp
- …
- be armed with
- carry
- hold
- …
- arm
- belt
- blade
- …
- sword of
- be put to the sword
- the blade, edge, hilt, tip, etc. of a sword
More Like This Silent lettersSilent letters- gnarled
- gnash
- gnat
- gnaw
- gnome
- haute cuisine
- heir
- herb
- honour
- hors d’oeuvre
- hour
- knack
- knee
- kneel
- knife
- knight
- knit
- knob
- knock
- knot
- know
- knuckle
- psalm
- psephology
- psychic
- ptarmigan
- pterodactyl
- psychology
- wrangle
- wrap
- wreath
- wreck
- wrench
- wrestle
- wriggle
- wring
- write
- wrong
- bomb
- climb
- crumb
- doubt
- lamb
- limb
- ascent
- fascinate
- muscle
- scene
- scissors
- height
- right
- sleigh
- weight
- align
- campaign
- design
- foreign
- malign
- reign
- unfeigned
- balmy
- calm
- calf
- half
- yolk
- autumn
- column
- condemn
- damn
- hymn
- solemn
- bristle
- fasten
- listen
- mortgage
- soften
- thistle
- wrestle
- biscuit
- build
- circuit
- disguise
- guilty
- league
- rogue
- vague
- yacht
- answer
- sword
- two
Word OriginOld English sw(e)ord, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zwaard and German Schwert.
Idioms
be a double-edged/two-edged sword/weapon
- to be something that has both advantages and disadvantages
- Fame is a double-edged sword.
cross swords (with somebody)
- to fight or argue with somebodyTopics Opinion and argumentc2
the pen is mightier than the sword
- (saying) people who write books, poems, etc. have a greater effect on history and human affairs than soldiers and wars
put somebody to the sword
- (old-fashioned or literary) to kill somebody with a sword
- All the men were put to the sword.
a/the sword of Damocles
- (literary) a bad or unpleasant thing that might happen to you at any time and that makes you feel worried or frightened
turn swords into ploughshares
- (literary) to stop fighting and return to peaceful activitiesTopics War and conflictc2