spear1

[speer] /spɪər/
noun
1.
a long, stabbing weapon for thrusting or throwing, consisting of a wooden shaft to which a sharp-pointed head, as of iron or steel, is attached.
2.
a soldier or other person armed with such a weapon; spearman:
an army of 40,000 spears.
3.
a similar weapon or stabbing implement, as one for use in fishing.
4.
the act of spearing.
adjective
5.
spear side.
verb (used with object)
6.
to pierce with or as with a spear.
verb (used without object)
7.
to go or penetrate like a spear:
The plane speared through the clouds.
Origin
before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English spere; cognate with Dutch, German speer
Related forms
spearer, noun

spear2

[speer] /spɪər/
noun
1.
a sprout or shoot of a plant, as a blade of grass or an acrospire of grain.
verb (used without object)
2.
to sprout; shoot; send up or rise in a spear or spears.
Origin
1520-30; variant of spire1, perhaps influenced by spear1
Examples from the web for spear
  • In the time of early flintlock development a spear was a multiple firing and automatically reloading weapon.
  • The belief that there are no small parts, only small actors, is the backbone of a spear carrier's life.
  • The spear had penetrated ten inches, rupturing her sinuses, which prevented her from using her trunk to drink.
  • The upraised spear point almost touched the ceiling.
  • From ancient noodle recipes to spear throwing, here are a few of our favorite studies.
  • To do the same with the spear is a matter of a few seconds.
  • People have been doing that ever since the invention of the spear.
  • The private business sector should and is spear heading the transition.
  • If you're savvy about wild foods, you'll even be able to spear fresh spring greens with it when you mix up a back-country salad.
  • Also, for every fat spear you would need two to four skinny ones, making peeling a nuisance.
British Dictionary definitions for spear

spear1

/spɪə/
noun
1.
a weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharp pointed end of metal, stone, or wood that may be thrown or thrust
2.
a similar implement used to catch fish
3.
another name for spearman
verb
4.
to pierce (something) with or as if with a spear
Derived Forms
spearer, noun
Word Origin
Old English spere; related to Old Norse spjör spears, Greek sparos gilthead

spear2

/spɪə/
noun
1.
a shoot, slender stalk, or blade, as of grass, asparagus, or broccoli
Word Origin
C16: probably variant of spire1, influenced by spear1
Word Origin and History for spear
n.

Old English spere, from Proto-Germanic *speri (cf. Old Norse spjör, Old Saxon, Old Frisian sper, Dutch speer, Old High German sper, German Speer "spear"), from PIE root *sper- "spear, pole" (cf. Old Norse sparri "spar, rafter," and perhaps also Latin sparus "hunting spear").

"sprout of a plant," 1540s, variant of spire.

v.

1755, from spear (n.1). Related: Speared; spearing.