knife /nīf/

An instrument with a blade for cutting or spreading

1. To cut
2. To apply with a knife
3. To stab
4. To try to defeat by treachery

To cut (with through) or penetrate (with into) as if with a knife

knifeˈless adjective

1. Without a knife
2. Without use of the knife

knifeˈlike adjective

knifˈer noun

knifˈing noun

The (criminal) act of stabbing someone with a knife

knife-and-forkˈ noun (Dickens)

A trencherman

adjective

Involving, or relating to, the use of a knife and fork

knifeˈ-board noun

1. A board on which knives are cleaned
2. A bench running along the top of an old type of bus (informal)

knifeˈ-box noun

A box for keeping table cutlery in

knifeˈ-boy noun

A boy employed in cleaning knives

knifeˈ-edge noun

1. The cutting edge of a knife
2. A sharp-edged ridge
3. A sharp piece of steel serving as the axis of a balance, etc (also figurative, esp as adj or in phrase on a knife-edge critically poised, in the balance)

knifeˈ-grinder noun

Someone who grinds or sharpens knives

knifeˈ-man noun

A man wielding or using a knife

knifeˈ-money noun

A knife-shaped bronze currency formerly used in China

knife pleat noun

A narrow, flat pleat

knifeˈ-point noun

The sharp tip of a knife (at knife-point under threat of injury by a knife)

knifeˈ-rest noun

A support for a carving knife or fork

knifeˈ-switch noun

A switch in an electric circuit, in which the moving element consists of a flat blade that engages with fixed contacts

at it like knives

Continuously and eagerly occupied with it

have one's knife in

1. To bear a grudge against
2. To be persistently hostile or vindictive towards

the knives are out for

People are out to get (someone)

twist the knife (in the wound)

To increase someone's distress or embarrassment, eg by making constant reminders of the circumstances that caused it

• swayl
• talismanical
• talismans
• talk
• talkabilities
• talkability
• talkable
• talk a blue streak
• talk about
• talk against time
• talk at
• talkathon
• talkathons
• talkative
• talkatively
• talkativeness
• talkativenesses
• talk back
• talkback
• talkbacks
• talk big
• talk down
• talk-down system
• talked
• talkee-talkee