spear

¹

[ speer ]

noun

1. a long, stabbing weapon for thrusting or throwing, consisting of a wooden shaft to which a sharp-pointed head, as of iron or steel, is attached.
2. a soldier or other person armed with such a weapon; spearman:

   an army of 40,000 spears.

3. a similar weapon or stabbing implement, as one for use in fishing.
4. the act of spearing.

adjective

1. spear side ( def ).

verb (used with object)

1. to pierce with or as with a spear.

verb (used without object)

1. to go or penetrate like a spear:

   The plane speared through the clouds.

spear

²

[ speer ]

noun

1. a sprout or shoot of a plant, as a blade of grass or an acrospire of grain.

verb (used without object)

1. to sprout; shoot; send up or rise in a spear or spears.

spear

¹

/ spɪə /

noun

1. a weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharp pointed end of metal, stone, or wood that may be thrown or thrust
2. a similar implement used to catch fish
3. another name for spearman

verb

1. to pierce (something) with or as if with a spear

spear

²

/ spɪə /

noun

1. a shoot, slender stalk, or blade, as of grass, asparagus, or broccoli

Derived Forms

• ˈspearer, noun

Other Words From

• spearer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spere, sper(re), Old English spere; cognate with Dutch, German speer

Origin of spear²

First recorded in 1640–50; variant of spire ¹, perhaps influenced by spear ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of spear¹

Old English spere; related to Old Norse spjör spears, Greek sparos gilthead

Origin of spear²

C16: probably variant of spire ¹, influenced by spear ¹

Example Sentences

In 2021, the company eliminated “negative depictions of native people” from the Jungle Cruise ride, including racist scenes of people waving spears.

From Los Angeles Times

Each of her ten arms holds a spear to slay evil.

From BBC

The hippo in Yauri was tracked down by young men, who used locally made spears known as a “zagos” to kill it.

From BBC

Hundreds of Californians weighed in, brandishing exclamation points like spears.

From Los Angeles Times

As people came close a branch would drop and spear the person in the stomach.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• dart
• harpoon
• skewer