English Explanatory Dictionary

lance

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen.
  2. A wooden spear, sometimes hollow, used in jousting or tilting, designed to shatter on impact with the opposing knight’s armour.
  3. A spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.
  4. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
  5. An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.
  6. A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.
  7. One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.
  8. A lancet.
  9. A piece in the game of shogi that can move directly forward any number of squares.
verb
  1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.
  2. To open with a lancet; to prick or cut open with a sharp instrument; to pierce.
  3. To throw in the manner of a lance; to lanch.
  4. to steal or swipe
  5. To move suddenly and quickly.
name
  1. A surname originating as a patronymic.
  2. A male given name from the Germanic languages; by folk etymology associated with a lance.
  3. A diminutive of the male given name Lancelot.
  4. A male given name transferred from the surname.

Pronunciation

läns /lɑːns/ lăns /læns/ En-us-lance.ogg

Word forms

lance lances lancing lanced

Etymology

From Middle English launce, from Old French lance, from Latin lancea.

Related words

lancet javelin pike spear lance Lancelot launce Launcelot

Derived words

break a lance break one's lance demilance fer-de-lance fire lance freelance hand lance hand-lance lancebill lance bombardier lance bucket lance corporal lance-corporal lancefish lance fish lancehead lance-jack lance knight lance-knight lanceless lancelike lanceman lance-ovate lancepod lancer lance rest lance sergeant lance skink lance snake lancewood lanciform microlance oxygen lance oxylance sand lance stink-fire lance thermal lance thermic lance the tongue wounds more than a lance lanceable outlance
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