Definition of spear
(Entry 1 of 5)
spear
verb (1)
speared; spearing; spears
Definition of spear (Entry 2 of 5)
1
: to pierce, strike, or take with or as if with a spear
spear salmon speared a chop from the platter
2
: to catch (something, such as a baseball) with a sudden thrust of the arm
3a
ice hockey
: to jab (an opposing player) with the blade of one's stick
All game, the Caps held, hooked, slashed, speared, chopped, and bopped … the Rangers' European players.— Stu Hackel
b
American football
: to ram (an opposing player) with one's helmet
… defensive end Ben Davidson set off a sidelines-clearing scrum when he speared Dawson from behind after he was down.— Jim Trotter
: to thrust at or wound something with or as if with a spear
spear
adjectiveDefinition of spear (Entry 3 of 5)
: paternal sense 3
the spear side of the family
— compare distaff
spear
verb (2)
speared; spearing; spears
Definition of spear (Entry 4 of 5)
spear
noun (2)Definition of spear (Entry 5 of 5)
: a usually young blade, shoot, or sprout (as of grass)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for spear
The first known use of spear was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century