lance

¹

[ lans, lahns ]

noun

1. a long wooden shaft with a pointed metal head, used as a weapon by knights and cavalry soldiers in charging.
2. a cavalry soldier armed with such a weapon; lancer.
3. an implement resembling the weapon, as a spear for killing a harpooned whale.
4. Lance, Military. a U.S. Army surface-to-surface rocket with a range of 47 miles (75 km) and capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead.
5. a lancet.
6. oxygen lance.
7. Machinery.
   1. a tube having a nozzle for cleaning furnace walls and other inaccessible surfaces with air, water, or steam.
   2. a pipe for directing oxygen onto a heated metal object in order to burn a hole in it, the lance also being consumed so as to add to the heat.

verb (used with object)

, lanced, lanc·ing.

1. to open with or as if with a lancet.
2. to pierce with a lance.
3. to cut through (concrete or the like) with an oxygen lance.

lance

²

[ lans, lahns ]

noun

1. sand lance.

Lance

³

[ lans ]

noun

1. a male given name.

lance

/ lɑːns /

noun

1. a long weapon with a pointed head used by horsemen to unhorse or injure an opponent
2. a similar weapon used for hunting, whaling, etc
3. surgery another name for lancet
4. the sand lance See sand eel

verb

1. to pierce (an abscess or boil) with a lancet to drain off pus
2. to pierce with or as if with a lance

Other Words From

• lancelike adjective
• un·lanced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English launce, lance, from Old French lance, from Latin lancea (perhaps from Celtic)

Origin of lance²

First recorded in 1620–30; perhaps special use of lance ¹, from its shape

Word History and Origins

Origin of lance¹

C13 launce, from Old French lance, from Latin lancea

Example Sentences

To the influential prophet Lance Wallnau, Trump’s election means that Christians can now go up against the “gates of hell” in “the DOJ, in the government, in the IRS.”

From Slate

Another example is Pierre Gasly’s win for Alpha Tauri at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, when a pit stop just before a red flag led to the Frenchman being promoted to third, behind Lewis Hamilton, who had a penalty, and Lance Stroll, who still needed to stop.

From BBC

Other stars to appear in the show included singer and actor Marisha Wallace, professional dancers Joanne Clifton and Vincent Simone, and singer Lance Ellington.

From BBC

The initial start was aborted after Lance Stroll spun his Aston Martin on the formation lap.

From BBC

Fusilier Jack Wilkes, from Tywyn, Gwynedd, was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma and became too ill to complete his Lance Corporal training.

From BBC