blades
blades — noun
1. the thin metal part of a knife, razor, or similar tool that does the cutting.
the thin metal part of a knife, razor, or similar tool that does the cutting.
Hugo dried the knife blades before sliding them back into the drawer.
collocation: knife blades
The barber changed the razor blades after finishing the last customer.
collocation: razor blades
Kemi tested both blades with her thumb before slicing the tomatoes.
A drop of oil kept the clipper blades moving smoothly all afternoon.
- knife blade
- razor blade
- clipper blades
- sharpen the blades
Grammar Patterns
the blade of a knife
replace the blades
sharpen a blade
Usage Note
Usually refers to the working cutting part, not the whole tool. Distinguish this sense from sense 8, where blade can mean the entire sword.
2. one of the wide flat pieces on equipment such as fans, paddles, or propellers th
one of the wide flat pieces on equipment such as fans, paddles, or propellers that drives air or water when it moves.
Ryo cleaned the fan blades before turning the air conditioner back on.
collocation: fan blades
Two cracked propeller blades made the small boat shake in the harbor.
collocation: propeller blades
Ayesha gripped the paddle blades tightly as the river current quickened.
The windmill blades turned faster once the afternoon storm reached the hill.
- fan blades
- propeller blades
- windmill blades
- paddle blades
Grammar Patterns
fan blades
propeller blades
the blades of a paddle
Usage Note
This sense is used for parts that move air or water by turning or sweeping through it. It does not refer to a cutting edge.
3. a flat, thin part in the name of another object because it is shaped like a blad
a flat, thin part in the name of another object because it is shaped like a blade.
Selim replaced the wiper blades before the winter rain started.
compound noun: wiper blades
The carpenter sorted the saw blades by size on the back shelf.
Putri washed the blender blades carefully after making peanut sauce.
The hairdresser oiled the clipper blades before the shop opened.
- wiper blades
- saw blades
- blender blades
- clipper blades
Grammar Patterns
wiper blades
saw blades
blender blades
Usage Note
Common in fixed object names such as wiper blades or saw blades. Unlike sense 2, these parts are not mainly defined by pushing air or water.
4. one narrow green strand from a grass plant or another plant with long thin leave
one narrow green strand from a grass plant or another plant with long thin leaves.
Morning rain still clung to the blades of grass outside Tamar's tent.
collocation: blades of grass
A tiny beetle hid between the wet green blades near the gate.
Dylan pulled a few dry blades from the goat's wool sweater.
The rabbit chewed the tallest blades along the edge of the garden.
- a blade of grass
- green blades
- dry blades
- blades of grass
Grammar Patterns
a blade of grass
blades of grass
Usage Note
Most often appears in the phrase 'a blade of grass' or in the plural 'blades of grass'. It refers to one leaf, not the whole plant.
5. the metal runner fixed under an ice skate that lets it slide across the ice.
the metal runner fixed under an ice skate that lets it slide across the ice.
Heather dried the skate blades with a towel after hockey practice.
collocation: skate blades
The coach checked every blade before the children stepped onto the rink.
A rough spot on one blade made Tomás wobble during the turn.
Freshly sharpened blades cut clean lines into the new ice surface.
- skate blades
- sharpen the blades
- rusty blades
- blade guards
- runner
technical word for the long sliding part under a skate or sled
Grammar Patterns
the blades of skates
sharpen the skate blades
Usage Note
Used specifically for the metal strip under an ice skate. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about a cutting tool, and sense 6, which names a prosthetic running device.
6. a curved artificial lower leg, often made of carbon fibre, that helps an amputee
a curved artificial lower leg, often made of carbon fibre, that helps an amputee walk or run.
Kian trained on carbon-fibre blades before the national para athletics meet.
collocation: carbon-fibre blades
The new blades stored enough energy to help the runner spring forward.
A sports clinic adjusted both blades so Nora's steps felt balanced.
News cameras followed the athlete as he crossed the finish line on blades.
- carbon-fibre blades
- run on blades
- adjust the blades
- racing blades
- running prosthesis
more explicit technical phrase for the same device
- prosthetic leg
broader term that also includes ordinary walking designs
Grammar Patterns
run on blades
carbon-fibre blades
Usage Note
Usually refers to the curved running prosthesis seen in sport or rehabilitation. The name comes from its narrow spring-like shape, not from cutting.
7. an old-fashioned word for a lively, stylish young man who acts with easy confide
an old-fashioned word for a lively, stylish young man who acts with easy confidence.
The novel describes three young blades laughing outside the theatre doors.
old-fashioned noun: young blades
Village gossip followed the richest blade at every summer dance.
An elderly aunt called her grandson a blade when he bought silk gloves.
In the period drama, several blades waited outside the card room.
- young blade
- fashionable blade
- handsome blades
Grammar Patterns
a young blade
a fashionable blade
Usage Note
This meaning is now mainly found in historical writing or playful imitation of older speech. In modern everyday English, people would usually choose a different word.
8. a sword or similar fighting weapon, especially in literary or dramatic language.
a sword or similar fighting weapon, especially in literary or dramatic language.
The guard drew his blade when the stranger reached for the chest.
literary use: draw a blade
Two masked fighters crossed blades beneath the palace lanterns.
A rusted blade hung above the fireplace in Grandfather Selvam's study.
The captain ordered every blade lowered before the peace talks began.
- draw a blade
- cross blades
- raise your blade
- rusted blade
Grammar Patterns
draw a blade
cross blades with someone
Usage Note
More literary and dramatic than sword. In everyday modern English, blade more often means the cutting part of a tool, as in sense 1.
9. a flat section of the body, especially around the shoulder bone or along the mid
a flat section of the body, especially around the shoulder bone or along the middle of the tongue.
The doctor felt a lump just below Mei's left shoulder blade.
compound noun: shoulder blade
A bruise spread between both shoulder blades after the hard landing.
The speech coach asked Omar to relax the blade of his tongue.
Warm pain shot across Rina's shoulder blade when she lifted the box.
- shoulder blade
- shoulder blades
- blade of the tongue
- shoulder blade
the common everyday body term covered by this broader sense
- scapula
technical anatomical word for the shoulder bone
Grammar Patterns
shoulder blade
blade of the tongue
Usage Note
Most people meet this sense in the fixed phrase shoulder blade. The tongue use is technical and far less common.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These words are related, but they name different parts of the cutting idea. A blade is the flat metal section that does the cutting, so it can belong to a knife, a razor, or a sword. An edge is narrower: it means the sharp line along that blade. A knife is the whole tool, including the handle, not just the cutting part. A razor is a specific tool for shaving, and its blades are usually thinner and easier to replace than knife blades. So you can sharpen the blade of a kitchen knife, touch the sharp edge carefully, or buy new razor blades at a pharmacy.
Etymology
Blade comes from Old English blæd, which first meant a leaf or something that opens and grows. Because leaves, grass, and later sword edges all share a long flat shape, English gradually extended the word from plant parts to cutting tools and other thin flat objects. That older shape idea still explains why the same word can name grass, machine parts, and the metal edge of a knife.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb