Word
saber
/ˈseɪbɝ/
UK spelling · sabre, sabres
Countable noun
Definition
n. a heavy sword with a curved blade that was used by soldiers on horses in the past.
n. a heavy cavalry sword with a curved, single-edged blade and a large hand guard. In modern contexts, it refers to a light, flexible fencing weapon with a triangular blade.
Examples
“The museum displays a silver saber from the nineteenth century.”
“The officer drew his saber and signaled for the cavalry to begin their charge across the field.”
“While the historical saber was designed for heavy cutting strokes from horseback, the modern fencing variant emphasizes speed and precision within a strictly defined target area.”
Examples
simple
“The museum displays a silver saber from the nineteenth century.”
contextual
“The officer drew his saber and signaled for the cavalry to begin their charge across the field.”
complex
“While the historical saber was designed for heavy cutting strokes from horseback, the modern fencing variant emphasizes speed and precision within a strictly defined target area.”
Usage
Commonly spelled 'sabre' in British English.
Pitfall
he saber the enemy
he attacked with a saber
While 'saber' can be a verb, it is almost exclusively used as a noun in modern English; learners should use it as an object of an action.
Real-World Examples
“Sigue leyendo para saber cómo y dónde inscribirte, dónde y cuándo puedes votar, y a qué números llamar si necesitas información que no encuentres en Internet.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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