lance

noun
UK: /lɑːns/
US: /læns/

  1. A long, pointed weapon used for thrusting, especially by knights on horseback.

    1. The knight held his lance ready for the joust. [ ] [ ]
    2. In medieval tournaments, a knight's skill with a lance was highly valued and admired. [ ] [ ]

  2. A surgical knife with a pointed, two-edged blade used to make small cuts or incisions.

    1. The doctor used a sterile lance to drain the abscess. [ ] [ ]
    2. With a swift movement, the surgeon employed the lance to relieve the pressure from the wound. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

spear spike cutter knife pierce puncture stab surge dart charge
lance transitive-verb

  1. To pierce or cut open with a lance or similar instrument.

    1. The doctor will lance the boil to release the pus. [ ] [ ]
    2. It's necessary to lance the infected area to prevent further complications and promote healing. [ ] [ ]

  2. To move forward quickly and forcefully like a lance.

    1. The car lanced through the heavy traffic. [ ] [ ]
    2. The runner lanced ahead of the other competitors during the final stretch of the race. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "lance" in English means: A long, pointed weapon used for thrusting, especially by knights on horseback., A surgical knife with a pointed, two-edged blade used to make small cuts or incisions..

The phonetic transcription of "lance" is /lɑːns/ in British English and /læns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "lance": spear, spike, cutter, knife, pierce, puncture, stab, surge, dart, charge.

Example usage of "lance": "The knight held his lance ready for the joust.". More examples on the page.