spear

noun
UK: /spɪər/
US: /spɪr/

  1. A long pole with a sharp pointed end, used for thrusting or throwing.

    1. The hunter used a spear to catch fish in the river.
    2. Ancient warriors often relied on the spear as their primary weapon in close combat.

  2. A pointed projection, such as a shoot on a plant.

    1. New spears of asparagus pushed up from the dark soil after the rain.
    2. The gardener carefully cut off the seed spears of the plant to encourage new growth.

Synonyms

pike javelin lance harpoon dart stab puncture impale
spear transitive-verb

  1. To pierce or stab with a spear.

    1. He tried to spear a fish, but it swam away quickly.
    2. The fisherman managed to spear the large salmon after a patient wait by the stream.

  2. To thrust or propel something with a pointed object.

    1. She used a fork to spear a piece of fruit from the salad.
    2. With a quick jab, he managed to spear the olive with his toothpick at the party.
spear intransitive-verb

  1. To hunt or fish with a spear.

    1. They went to the lake to spear fish for dinner.
    2. Historically, people would spear fish using torches to attract them at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "spear" in English means: A long pole with a sharp pointed end, used for thrusting or throwing., A pointed projection, such as a shoot on a plant..

The phonetic transcription of "spear" is /spɪər/ in British English and /spɪr/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "spear": pike, javelin, lance, harpoon, dart, stab, puncture, impale.

Example usage of "spear": "The hunter used a spear to catch fish in the river.". More examples on the page.