blade

1 of 2

noun

ˈblād 

plural blades

1

a

: leaf sense 1a(1)

especially : the leaf of an herb or a grass

b

: the flat expanded part of a leaf as distinguished from the petiole : lamina sense 3a

2

: something resembling the blade of a leaf: such 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 (such 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

Top blade steaks range from four to eight ounces each.

—Molly Stevens

see also shoulder blade

e

: the flattened photosynthetic part of an algae that typically arises from the stipe : lamina sense 3b

f

: 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

bladelike

ˈblād-ˌlīk 

adjective

blade

2 of 2

verb

bladed; blading

1

transitive golf : to hit (a ball or shot) with the leading edge of the clubface : skull

I hit a wedge from 45 yards and basically bladed it over the green.

—Tiger Woods

2

intransitive : to skate on in-line skates

Connect a pair of these wild things to your feet and you are blading—cruising with all the cool of ice skating but without the ice.

—Bob Batz, Jr.

blader

ˈblā-dər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• sword

Examples of blade in a Sentence

Noun

the blade of an ax

dueled with blades rather than guns

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The best blender should have sharp stainless-steel blades and a strong motor of at least 1,000 watts, according to our pros. —Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 July 2025

Bloody bedding, a large machine saw, diamond-saw blades, a machete and canes belonging to Wang and Li were also among the items recovered from the garage and backyard of the family home. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 14 July 2025

Verb

Equipped with a touchscreen that monitors blade tension, motor speed, and tilt angle in real time, it’s designed to remove the guesswork from one of the woodshop’s most essential tools. —Jason Phillips, USA Today, 17 July 2025

As temperatures rise, set the lawn mower blades higher to keep the grass just a little longer for a healthier lawn. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1959, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing blade

• blade server
• razor blade
• shoulder blade

Rhymes for blade

• aid
• aide
• bade
• braid
• clade
• dade
• fade
• flayed
• fraid
• frayed
• gade
• glade

Kids Definition

blade

noun

ˈblād

1

a

: a leaf of a plant and especially of a grass

b

: the broad flat part of a leaf as distinguished from its stalk

2

a

: the broad flat part of an oar or paddle

b

: an arm of a propeller, electric fan, or steam turbine

3

a

: the cutting part of a tool

b

: sword sense 1

c

: the runner of an ice skate

4

: a bold lively man

bladed

ˈblād-əd

adjective

Medical Definition

blade

noun

ˈblād 

1

: a broad flat body part (as the shoulder blade)

2

: the flat portion of the tongue immediately behind the tip

also : this portion together with the tip

3

: a flat working and especially cutting part of an implement (as a scalpel)