spade

noun

1

a

: a black figure that resembles a stylized spearhead on each playing card of one of the four suits

also : a card marked with this figure

b

spades plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the suit comprising cards marked with spades

2

offensive

—used as an insulting and contemptuous term for a Black person

see also:

in spades

Examples of spade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Our Favorite Boutique Hotels in New York City These small-scale stays offer character and intimacy in spades. —Samantha Leal, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026

Organic growth is what mattered, and Apple had it in spades. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 May 2026

All eyes are on the NBA playoffs, but a good game of spades — especially in a tournament environment — can bring Game 7-esque aura. —Terrance Moore, New York Times, 9 May 2026

But here, in the sequel, the screenwriter delivers audiences a tough reality that’s easier to swallow thanks to the nostalgia, humor and glamour that the first delivered in spades. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 3 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian spada or Spanish espada broadsword; both from Latin spatha, from Greek spathē blade

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing spade

• call a spade a spade
• spade beard

Rhymes for spade

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

Kids Definition

spade

1 of 3 noun

ˈspād 

1

: a digging tool like a shovel made so that it can be pushed into the ground with the foot

2

: a spade-shaped instrument

spadeful

-ˌfu̇l 

noun

spade

2 of 3 verb

spaded; spading

: to dig with or use a spade

spade

3 of 3 noun

1

: a black figure resembling an inverted heart with a short stem at the bottom used to indicate a suit of playing cards

2

: a card of the suit of spades

Etymology

Old English spadu "a digging tool"

from Italian spada or Spanish espada, both meaning "broad sword" and both from Latin spatha "blade"