blade

1 of 2

noun

ˈblād 

plural blades

1

a

: leaf sense 1a(1)

especially : the leaf of an herb or a grass

b

: the flat expanded part of a leaf as distinguished from the petiole : lamina sense 3a

2

: something resembling the blade of a leaf: such as

a

: the broad flattened part of an oar or paddle

b

: an arm of a screw propeller, electric fan, or steam turbine

c

: the broad flat or concave part of a machine (such as a bulldozer or snowplow) that comes into contact with the material to be moved

d

: a broad flat body part

specifically : scapula

—used chiefly in naming cuts of meat

Top blade steaks range from four to eight ounces each.

—Molly Stevens

see also shoulder blade

e

: the flattened photosynthetic part of an algae that typically arises from the stipe : lamina sense 3b

f

: the flat portion of the tongue immediately behind the tip

also : this portion together with the tip

3

a

: the cutting part of an implement

b(1)

: sword

(2)

: swordsman

(3)

: a dashing lively man

c

: the runner of an ice skate

bladelike

ˈblād-ˌlīk 

adjective

blade

2 of 2

verb

bladed; blading

1

transitive golf : to hit (a ball or shot) with the leading edge of the clubface : skull

I hit a wedge from 45 yards and basically bladed it over the green.

—Tiger Woods

2

intransitive : to skate on in-line skates

Connect a pair of these wild things to your feet and you are blading—cruising with all the cool of ice skating but without the ice.

—Bob Batz, Jr.

blader

ˈblā-dər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• brand
• steel
• sword

Examples of blade in a Sentence

Noun

the blade of an ax

dueled with blades rather than guns

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Use a whetstone to sharpen pruning shears and other blades. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024

Inspect: Check your vehicle’s tires, wiper blades, fluids, lights, belts and hoses. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Dec. 2024

Verb

Designed in Thiers, France—known to blade aficionados as the knife capital of the world—the saber features an ebony wood handle and can be engraved with a custom name or date. —Sophie Dodd, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024

Set your mower blades to a higher setting to encourage deeper root growth and better moisture retention. —Claire Marks, Austin American-Statesman, 27 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English blæd; akin to Old High German blat leaf, Latin folium, Greek phyllon, Old English blōwan to blossom — more at blow

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1959, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing blade

• blade server
• razor blade
• shoulder blade

Kids Definition

blade

noun

ˈblād

1

a

: a leaf of a plant and especially of a grass

b

: the broad flat part of a leaf as distinguished from its stalk

2

a

: the broad flat part of an oar or paddle

b

: an arm of a propeller, electric fan, or steam turbine

3

a

: the cutting part of a tool

b

: sword sense 1

c

: the runner of an ice skate

4

: a bold lively man

bladed

ˈblād-əd

adjective

Medical Definition

blade

noun

ˈblād 

1

: a broad flat body part (as the shoulder blade)

2

: the flat portion of the tongue immediately behind the tip

also : this portion together with the tip

3

: a flat working and especially cutting part of an implement (as a scalpel)