Main Entry: ¹blade

Pronunciation: \ˈblād\

Function: noun

Etymology: 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

Date: before 12th century

1 a : leaf 1a(1); especially : the leaf of an herb or a grass b : the flat expanded part of a leaf as distinguished from the petiole
2 : something resembling the blade of a leaf: 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 (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 e : 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

— blade·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective