1. [n]  a surgical knife with a pointed double-edged blade; used for punctures and small incisions
2. [n]  a long pointed rod used as a weapon
3. [n]  an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish
4. [v]  open by piercing with a lancet, as of a boil
5. [v]  pierce with a lance, as in a knights' fight
6. [v]  move quickly, as if by cutting one's way; "Planes lanced towards the shore"

1. \Lance\, n. [OE. lance, F. lance, fr. L. lancea; cf. Gr.
   ?. Cf. {Launch}.]
   1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and
      a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and
      often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or
      harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.
            A braver soldier never couched lance. --Shak.
   2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
   3. (Founding) A small iron rod which suspends the core of the
      mold in casting a shell.
   4. (Mil.) An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece
      of ordnance and forces it home.
   5. (Pyrotech.) One of the small paper cases filled with
      combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a
      figure.
   {Free lance}, in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight
      or roving soldier, who was free to engage for any state or
      commander that purchased his services; hence, a person who
      assails institutions or opinions on his own responsibility
      without regard to party lines or deference to authority.
   {Lance bucket} (Cavalry), a socket attached to a saddle or
      stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance.
   {Lance corporal}, same as {Lancepesade}.
   {Lance knight}, a lansquenet. --B. Jonson.
   {Lance snake} (Zo["o]l.), the fer-de-lance.
   {Stink-fire lance} (Mil.), a kind of fuse filled with a
      composition which burns with a suffocating odor; -- used
      in the counter operations of miners.
   {To break a lance}, to engage in a tilt or contest.
   

2. \Lance\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lanced}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Lancing}.]
   1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.
            Seized the due victim, and with fury lanced Her
            back.                                 --Dryden.
   2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or
      an abscess.
   3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See {Lanch}.
   

Local Area Network Controller for Ethernet.

The alternative name for the Am7990 integrated circuit used in a Filtabyte Ethernet controller card.