lance

1 of 2

noun

ˈlan(t)s 

1

: a steel-tipped spear carried by mounted knights or light cavalry

2

: any of various sharp objects suggestive of a lance: such as

a

: lancet

b

: a spear used for killing whales or fish

3

: lancer sense 1b

lance

2 of 2

verb

lanced; lancing

transitive verb

1

a

: to pierce with or as if with a lance

b

: to open with or as if with a lancet

lance a boil

2

: to throw forward : hurl

intransitive verb

: to move forward quickly

Synonyms

Noun

• javelin
• pike
• pikestaff
• shaft
• spear

Verb

• gore
• harpoon
• impale
• jab
• peck
• pick
• pierce
• pink
• puncture
• run through
• skewer
• spear
• spike
• spit
• stab
• stick
• transfix
• transpierce

Examples of lance in a Sentence

Noun

the lance struck squarely on the knight's shield, knocking him from his horse

Verb

He had the boil on his arm lanced.

doctors used to lance infected sores, so that they could drain clean

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The shooting spurts of goo, pus, and assorted bodily fluids are definitely not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, but for those who enjoy watching an expert pop pimples, lance boils, and generally improve the quality of her patients' lives, Dr. Pimple Popper is sure to deliver. —Briana Richert, James Mercadante, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2024

Caladiums are grown for their foliage, with leaves shaped like hearts, arrows, or lances in combinations of red, pink, rose, white, chartreuse, and green. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 June 2023

Verb

There are also venison and pig trotter pies, each lanced with an enormous marrow bone. —Caitie Kelly Wei Tchou Julia Halperin Tom Delavan Lane Nieset Gage Daughdrill, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023

In some ways, chiropractic was ripe for this type of treatment, just as dermatology was ripe for Dr. Pimple Popper to lance the field wide open for the disgust and pleasure of a massive audience. —Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 25 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin lancea

Verb

Middle English launcen, from Anglo-French lancer, from Late Latin lanceare, from Latin lancea

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing lance

• fer-de-lance
• free lance
• lance corporal
• sand lance

Kids Definition

lance

1 of 2 noun

ˈlan(t)s 

1

: a weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharp steel head that was used by knights on horseback

2

: a sharp instrument

especially : lancet

lance

2 of 2 verb

lanced; lancing

: to pierce or cut with a lance or lancet

Medical Definition

lance

1 of 2 noun

ˈlan(t)s 

: lancet

lance

2 of 2 transitive verb

lanced; lancing

: to open with or as if with a lancet : make an incision in or into

lance a boil

lance a vein