blade
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the flat, sharp part of a knife, tool, or weapon that does the cutting.
n.the sharp-edged functional component of a cutting instrument or weapon.
Simple“The chef sharpened the blade of his knife before starting to chop the vegetables.”
In context“The forensic team examined the serrated blade for any microscopic traces of organic material that might link it to the crime scene.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the wide, flat part of an object that pushes against air or water, like on a fan or a boat's oar.
n.the broad, flat surface of a propeller, oar, or turbine designed to provide traction or propulsion.
Simple“One blade of the ceiling fan was slightly bent, causing it to wobble.”
In context“The rower dipped the blade into the water with perfect timing, ensuring maximum power for the final sprint.”
Synonymsvanepaddle - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the large, flat bone in your upper back.
n.the scapula; a flat, triangular bone located in the upper posterior thorax.
Simple“He felt a sharp pain near his right shoulder blade after lifting the heavy box.”
In context“The physical therapist noted significant tension in the muscles surrounding the patient's left shoulder blade.”
Synonymsscapula - 05 B1 Intermediate
n.the metal part on the bottom of an ice skate.
n.the runner of an ice skate, typically made of tempered steel.
Simple“She checked her blades to make sure they were sharp enough for the competition.”
In context“The figure skater felt the blade bite into the ice as she prepared for the triple axel.”
Synonyms - 06 C2 Proficiency
n.a confident, stylish, and perhaps slightly wild young man.
n.a dashing, jaunty, or rakish young man; often implies a certain social confidence or bravado.
Simple“In the old novel, he was described as a young blade about town.”
In context“The protagonist was a bit of a blade in his youth, spending his inheritance on fine horses and late-night revelry.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
n.a curved artificial leg used by runners who have lost a limb.
n.a carbon-fibre prosthetic lower limb designed specifically for high-performance athletics.
Simple“The sprinter adjusted his running blade before stepping onto the track.”
In context“Advances in materials science have allowed for blades that mimic the energy return of a human ankle with remarkable efficiency.”
Synonyms - 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to move around using rollerblades.
v.to travel or exercise using inline skates.
Simple“We decided to blade along the beach path while the sun was setting.”
In context“They spent the afternoon blading through the park, navigating the paved trails with ease.”
Synonymsskaterollerblade
“He was threatened with a Stanley blade.” She had been alarmed at being summoned to court.”
“The approach could enable tougher turbine blades and higher-performance engines.”
From Middle English blade, blad, from Old English blæd (“leaf”), from Proto-West Germanic blad, from Proto-Germanic bladą, from Proto-Indo-European bʰl̥h₃-o-to-m, from bʰleh₃- (“to thrive, bloom”). See also West Frisian bled, Dutch blad, German Blatt, Danish blad, Irish bláth (“flower”), Welsh blodyn (“flower”), Tocharian A pält, Tocharian B pilta (“leaf”), Albanian fletë (“leaf”). Similar usage in German Sägeblatt (“saw blade”, literally “saw leaf”). Doublet of blat. More at blow.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.