1. [n]  edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
2. [n]  a weapon with a handle and blade with a sharp point
3. [n]  any long thin projection that is transient; "tongues of flame licked at the walls"; "rifles exploded quick knives of fire into the dark"
4. [v]  use a knife on; "The victim was knifed to death"

1. \Knife\, n.; pl. {Knives}. [OE. knif, AS. cn[=i]f; akin to
   D. knijf, Icel. kn[=i]fr, Sw. knif, Dan. kniv.]
   1. An instrument consisting of a thin blade, usually of steel
      and having a sharp edge for cutting, fastened to a handle,
      but of many different forms and names for different uses;
      as, table knife, drawing knife, putty knife, pallet knife,
      pocketknife, penknife, chopping knife, etc..
   2. A sword or dagger.
            The coward conquest of a wretch's knife. --Shak.
   {Knife grass} (Bot.) a tropical American sedge ({Scleria
      latifolia}), having leaves with a very sharp and hard
      edge, like a knife.
   {War to the knife}, mortal combat; a conflict carried to the
      last extremity.
   

2. \Knife\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Knifed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Knifing}.]
   1. (Hort.) To prune with the knife.
   2. To cut or stab with a knife. [Low]
   

3. \Knife\, v. t.
   Fig.: To stab in the back; to try to defeat by underhand
   means, esp. in politics; to vote or work secretly against (a
   candidate of one's own party). [Slang, U. S.]
   

(1.) Heb. hereb, "the waster," a sharp instrument for circumcision (Josh. 5:2, 3, lit. "knives of flint;" comp. Ex. 4:25); a razor (Ezek. 5:1); a graving tool (Ex. 20:25); an axe (Ezek. 26:9).

(2.) Heb. maakeleth, a large knife for slaughtering and cutting up food (Gen. 22:6, 10; Prov. 30:14).

(3.) Heb. sakkin, a knife for any purpose, a table knife (Prov. 23:2).

(4.) Heb. mahalaph, a butcher's knife for slaughtering the victims offered in sacrifice (Ezra 1:9).

(5.) Smaller knives (Heb. ta'ar, Jer. 36:26) were used for sharpening pens. The pruning-knives mentioned in Isa. 18:5 (Heb. mizmaroth) were probably curved knives.