lance
lance — noun
1. a weapon made of a long wooden shaft with a sharp metal head, used by soldiers o
a weapon made of a long wooden shaft with a sharp metal head, used by soldiers on horseback in medieval battles or tournaments.
During the mock battle, the knight lowered his lance and charged at his opponent.
lowered his lance — verb + lance as direct object
The museum display includes a twelfth-century lance that is over three metres long.
Each cavalry soldier carried a lance tipped with steel and decorated with a small banner.
Rin read about how the lance replaced the spear as the main weapon of mounted warriors in Europe.
文法句型
lance + verb (e.g. lance pierced, lance broke)
用法筆記
In modern contexts, lance usually appears in historical writing, museum descriptions, or fantasy fiction. Do not use it for modern military spears.
常見錯誤
lance — verb
1. to use a thin medical knife to make a small opening in infected skin so that pus
to use a thin medical knife to make a small opening in infected skin so that pus can flow out and healing can begin.
The nurse lanced the abscess on Tunde's forearm and cleaned the wound thoroughly.
lance + object (abscess) — direct medical object
Boils that do not burst on their own may need to be lanced by a doctor.
passive: need to be lanced
Anjali's swollen gum was lanced to release the pressure from the infection beneath it.
The veterinarian used a sterile blade to lance the cyst on the horse's neck.
Élise was relieved when the doctor said the blister could be drained without needing to be lanced.
文法句型
lance + object (boil/abscess/swelling)
be lanced (passive)
用法筆記
This sense belongs to medical or veterinary contexts. The subject is typically a doctor, nurse, or veterinarian. The object is almost always a skin swelling: boil, abscess, cyst, blister, or gum.
常見錯誤
2. to strike or push through a target with a lance, especially during a joust or ca
to strike or push through a target with a lance, especially during a joust or cavalry charge.
In the tournament, Sir Gareth lanced his rival squarely in the chest and knocked him off his horse.
The two knights charged at each other, each hoping to lance the other before being hit.
lance + direct object (the other / opponent)
Historical accounts describe how the heavy cavalry lanced the enemy lines during the charge.
The wax dummy was dressed in armour so that visitors could try to lance it with a replica weapon.
文法句型
lance + object (opponent, target)
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in historical writing, historical re-enactment, or fantasy literature. In modern conversation the medical sense is more likely to be heard.