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spear

 - 6 dictionary results

spear

1  [speer] ,
Use spear in a Sentence
–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
5. spear side.
–verb (used with object)
6. to pierce with or as with a spear.
–verb (used without object)
7. to go or penetrate like a spear: The plane speared through the clouds.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME (n.), OE spere; c. D, G speer

Related forms:
spearer, noun

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)
2. to sprout; shoot; send up or rise in a spear or spears.
Origin:
1520–30; var. of spire 1 , perh. influenced by spear 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To spear
spear 1   (spîr)   
n.  

  1. A weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharply pointed end.

  2. A shaft with a sharp point and barbs for spearing fish.

  3. A soldier armed with a spear.

v.   speared, spear·ing, spears

v.   tr.

  1. To pierce with or as if with a spear.

  2. To catch with a thrust of the arm: spear a football.

    1. Football To block (an opponent) by ramming with the helmet, in violation of the rules.

    2. Sports To jab (an opponent) with the blade of a hockey stick, in violation of the rules.

v.   intr.
To stab at something with or as if with a spear.

[Middle English spere, from Old English.]
spear'er n., spear'like' adj.
spear 2   (spîr)   
n.  A slender stalk, as of asparagus.
intr.v.   speared, spear·ing, spears
To sprout like a spear.

[Alteration of spire1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

spear  (1)
O.E. spere, from P.Gmc. *speri (cf. O.N. spjör, O.S., O.Fris. sper, Du. speer, O.H.G. sper, Ger. Speer "spear"), from PIE base *sper- "spear, pole" (cf. O.N. sparri "spar, rafter," and perhaps also L. sparus "hunting spear"). The verb is 1755. Spearmint first recorded 1539. Spearhead (n.) is attested from c.1400; fig. sense of "leading element" (of an attack, movement, etc.) is attested from 1893; the verb in this sense is recorded from 1938.

spear  (2)
"sprout of a plant," 1543, variant of spire.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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