■ noun ( plural knives ) a cutting instrument consisting of a blade fixed into a handle.
↘a cutting blade on a machine.
■ verb
1》 stab with a ~.
2》 cut like a ~.
Phrases
before you can say ~ informal very quickly.
get (or stick ) the ~ into (or in) informal be malicious or vindictive towards.
go (or be ) under the ~ informal have surgery.
Derivatives
~-like adjective
~r noun
Origin
OE cnīf , from ON knífr , of Gmc origin.