blade
blade — noun
1. the long, thin, sharp piece of metal that forms the cutting side of a knife, swo
the long, thin, sharp piece of metal that forms the cutting side of a knife, sword, razor, or similar tool.
Beatriz tested the blade of the kitchen knife with her thumb before chopping the onions.
the blade of [a knife]
The old sword had a long, curved blade that was still very sharp.
Always wash the blade carefully so you do not cut your fingers.
Aiko dropped the razor, and the blade left a small scratch on the bathroom tiles.
The factory makes steel blades for axes, saws, and farm tools.
文法句型
the blade of [a knife/sword/razor]
用法筆記
Object is usually a cutting tool (knife, sword, razor, axe). Often appears in 'sharp/dull/clean blade' and 'the blade of [tool]'. Distinguish from sense 2 (rotating part) and sense 5 (skate part) by context.
常見錯誤
2. one of the wide, flat arms on a fan, propeller, helicopter, oar, or windmill tha
one of the wide, flat arms on a fan, propeller, helicopter, oar, or windmill that turns or moves to push air or water.
The helicopter blades spun so fast that Sofia had to hold onto her hat.
plural subject: blades spun
Dust covered the blades of the ceiling fan in the bedroom.
the blades of [a fan]
Farouk pulled the oar through the water, and the wide blade flashed in the sun.
The wind turned the windmill's three white blades all afternoon.
Engineers checked each propeller blade before the small plane took off.
文法句型
the blades of [a fan/propeller/helicopter]
用法筆記
Often appears in plural ('blades') because most machines have several. Common compounds: 'fan blades', 'propeller blades', 'rotor blades', 'oar blade'. Subject is usually a machine or wind-powered device.
常見錯誤
3. used as part of the name of an object whose shape is flat and thin, often long,
used as part of the name of an object whose shape is flat and thin, often long, looking similar to the cutting part of a knife.
Marcus rubbed his sore shoulder blade after lifting the heavy box into the truck.
compound: shoulder blade
Anna found a small bone called the shoulder blade in her biology textbook.
Children love to pick up wide blades of seaweed on the beach in summer.
The chef cleaned the wide blade of her cleaver after slicing the roast duck.
文法句型
[noun] + blade
用法筆記
This sense appears mainly inside fixed compounds ('shoulder blade', 'blade of seaweed'). Rarely stands alone. Distinguish from sense 1 by the absence of any cutting purpose.
4. one of the thin, flat, pointed leaves that grow up from grass and similar plants
one of the thin, flat, pointed leaves that grow up from grass and similar plants.
A single blade of grass had pushed up between the stones in the garden path.
a blade of grass
Tom lay on the lawn and chewed a long blade of grass while watching the clouds.
After the rain, every blade of grass shone with tiny drops of water.
The rabbit nibbled at the soft blades near the edge of the field.
文法句型
a blade of grass
用法筆記
Almost always appears in 'a blade of grass' or plural 'blades of grass'. Used for narrow leaves of grasses, reeds, or rice plants — not for broad leaves like those of an oak tree.
常見錯誤
5. the thin metal strip fixed under an ice skate that the skater glides along the i
the thin metal strip fixed under an ice skate that the skater glides along the ice on.
Yuna sharpened the blades of her skates before the figure skating competition.
the blades of [skates]
The blade of the skate left a thin line across the smooth ice.
After two hours of practice, Mateo's blades were dull and needed polishing.
Hockey skaters often check that each blade is straight before a game starts.
- runner
older term for the same metal strip, also used for sleds
- wheel
what a roller skate uses instead of a blade
文法句型
the blade of [an ice skate]
用法筆記
Specific to ice skates (figure skating, hockey, speed skating). Roller skates have 'wheels', not 'blades'. Often used in plural because each skate has its own blade.
常見錯誤
6. a curved springy device, usually made of carbon fiber, worn by someone whose low
a curved springy device, usually made of carbon fiber, worn by someone whose lower limb is partly missing so that they can walk, run, or compete in sports.
Paralympic sprinter Aisha trains every morning with a carbon running blade.
compound: running blade
After the accident, Daniel learned to run again using a curved blade.
The new blade fits onto Aiko's leg below the knee and bends with each step.
Engineers design lighter blades each year so athletes can move faster on the track.
- prosthesis
the general medical term for any artificial body part
- prosthetic
general term; 'blade' refers specifically to the curved sports type
文法句型
running blade
carbon blade
用法筆記
Often appears in 'running blade' or 'sports blade'. Strongly associated with Paralympic athletics and rehabilitation. Distinguish from sense 5 (ice skate part) by context — this is fitted to a person, not a shoe.
7. an old-fashioned word for a lively, good-looking young man who dresses well and
an old-fashioned word for a lively, good-looking young man who dresses well and enjoys having fun.
In the 1920s, Henry was known around the city as a charming young blade.
a young blade
The novel describes a group of rich blades drinking and dancing every night in London.
plural: blades
Grandma laughed and called Uncle Theo 'a real blade' when he wore his new white suit.
The painting shows a handsome blade riding through the village on a tall black horse.
文法句型
a young blade
a gay blade
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and now mostly literary or humorous. Often modified by 'young', 'gay', or 'dashing'. Modern speakers rarely use this sense — choose 'a stylish young man' in everyday writing.