sickle

1 of 3

noun

sick·​le ˈsi-kəl 

1

: an agricultural implement consisting of a curved metal blade with a short handle fitted on a tang

2

: the cutting mechanism (as of a reaper, combine, or mower) consisting of a bar with a series of cutting elements

Illustration of sickle

• sickle 1

sickle

2 of 3

adjective

: having the form of a sickle blade : having a curve similar to that of a sickle blade

the sickle moon

sickle

3 of 3

verb

sickled; sickling ˈsi-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to mow or reap with a sickle

2

: to change (a red blood cell) into a sickle cell

intransitive verb

: to change into a sickle cell

the ability of red blood cells to sickle

Examples of sickle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

High up in a tree, a man with a sickle is harvesting sap from a sugar palm, and a few feet off the path, a pair of brown Horsfield’s babbler chicks huddle in a low twig cup, safe from harm. —Lindsey McGinnis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2025

The imagery is shocking: naked bodies, an upside-down cross, hooded Klan members, chains, hammers, sickles, swastikas and ladders leading to nowhere. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Excavations also uncovered an iron sickle, stone tool, bronze pendant, a pair of beads possibly made of amber and a whalebone tool, the museum said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025

Mars will be visible as a bright reddish point of light approximately 7 degrees to the upper left of the sickle moon. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 30 May 2025

Verb

Instead, using its own medical expert, the defense claimed Neely died of a sickling crisis from his sickle cell trait, a schizophrenic episode, Penny’s restraint and synthetic marijuana. —Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024

The defense presented its own medical expert who said Neely died of a combination of factors, including a sickling crisis linked to his sickle cell trait, a schizophrenic episode, the struggle and restraint by Penny and K2 intoxication. —Gloria Pazmino, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sikel, from Old English sicol, from Latin secula sickle, from secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

1688, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing sickle

• hammer and sickle
• sickle cell
• sickle cell anemia
• sickle-cell trait

Rhymes for sickle

• fickle
• mickle
• nickel
• nickle
• nicol
• pickle
• prickle
• tickle
• trickle
• ventricle

Kids Definition

sickle

1 of 2 noun

sick·​le ˈsik-əl 

: a tool with a sharp curved metal blade and a short handle used to cut grass

sickle

2 of 2 verb

sickled; sickling

ˈsik-(ə-)liŋ

: to change into a sickle cell

the ability of red blood cells to sickle

Medical Definition

sickle

1 of 3 noun

sick·​le ˈsik-əl 

: a dental scaler with a curved 3-sided point

sickle

2 of 3 adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of sickle cell anemia or sickle-cell trait

sickle hemoglobin

sickle

3 of 3 verb

sickled; sickling ˈsik-(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to change (a red blood cell) into a sickle cell

intransitive verb

: to undergo change into a sickle cell

the ability of red blood cells to sickle