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

Venera probes, like all of the Soviet spacecraft sent to the moon and the planets, carried along with them small memorial coins, medals and titanium pennants—embossed with the hammer and sickle, the likeness of Lenin, the Earth, and more. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 May 2025

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

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