scythe
gb/sˈɪθ/ us/sˈɪθ/
C1
English
kasza, kaszál, letarol, lekaszál
NOUN
C1
1
kasza
B2
Usage pattern:
a scythe; [use] a scythe; [sharpen] a scythe
He cut the long grass with a scythe because the mower couldn’t reach the slope.
A hosszú füvet kaszával vágta le, mert a fűnyíró nem boldogult a lejtőn.
The museum display included a scythe used for harvesting grain by hand.
A múzeumi kiállításon egy, a gabona kézi aratásához használt kasza is szerepelt.
She hung the scythe in the shed after sharpening the blade.
Learner examples
He uses a scythe to cut grass.
Kaszával vágja a füvet.
The scythe has a long handle.
A kaszának hosszú nyele van.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse a scythe (long handle, two-handed) with a sickle (smaller, one-handed).
Meaning
curved tool for mowing grass
Collocations
use a scythe
|swing a scythe
|sharpen a scythe
|whet a scythe
|a long-handled scythe
|a traditional scythe
|a scythe blade
|a scythe handle
|cut hay with a scythe
|mow with a scythe
Synonyms
sickle (A smaller, hand-held cutting tool; a scythe is longer and usually used with two hands.)
|
mowing scythe (More explicit term for the agricultural tool.)
Themes
agriculture
|tools
|outdoors
Definition
A tool with a long handle and a curved blade for cutting grass or crops.
A long-handled farm tool with a curved blade, used for cutting grass, grain, or other vegetation by hand.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
2
kasza
B2
Usage pattern:
the scythe (as a symbol of death)
In the painting, Death is shown holding a scythe.
A festményen a Halál egy kaszát tart a kezében.
The scythe in the logo is meant to suggest mortality and time running out.
A logóban a kasza a halandóságot és az idő fogyását hivatott jelezni.
Halloween decorations often include a hooded figure with a scythe.
Learner examples
The Grim Reaper is often shown with a scythe.
A Kaszást gyakran kaszával ábrázolják.
Common mistake:
This sense is symbolic; it does not mean an actual farming tool in the scene.
Meaning
symbol of death in art
Collocations
the Reaper’s scythe
|the Grim Reaper’s scythe
|Death’s scythe
|a scythe-wielding figure
|a scythe as a symbol
|a scythe in medieval art
Synonyms
emblem (General word for a symbolic object; not specific to death.)
Themes
culture
|art
|death
Definition
In stories and pictures, a scythe can represent death.
A scythe, especially as shown in images of the Grim Reaper, used as a symbol of death or the taking of life.
VERB
C1
3
kaszál
B2
Usage pattern:
scythe [grass/hay/corn]; scythe down [vegetation]
They scythed the meadow at dawn while the grass was still damp.
Hajnalban kaszálták le a rétet, amíg a fű még nedves volt.
He scythed the weeds along the fence line.
A kerítés mentén kaszálta le a gyomokat.
For the demonstration, volunteers scythed a small patch of hay by hand.
Learner examples
They scythe the grass in summer.
Nyáron kaszálják a füvet.
Common mistake:
The verb is usually used for cutting vegetation, not for ordinary knife-cutting.
Meaning
cut with a scythe
Collocations
scythe the grass
|scythe the field
|scythe hay
|scythe corn
|scythe weeds
|scythe down vegetation
|scythe by hand
Synonyms
mow (More general; can be done with a machine as well as by hand.)
|
reap (Often refers specifically to harvesting grain or crops.)
Antonyms
sow (To plant seeds, the opposite activity in farming.)
Themes
agriculture
|outdoors
Definition
To cut grass or crops with a scythe.
To cut grass, grain, or other vegetation using a scythe.
VERB
C2
4
Usage pattern:
scythe through [something]; scythe down [people/trees/etc.]
The truck scythed through the barriers and into the crowd.
A teherautó letarolta a terelőkorlátokat, majd a tömegbe hajtott.
Machine-gun fire scythed down the front line.
A géppuskatűz lekaszálta az első vonalat.
The storm scythed through the orchard, leaving broken branches everywhere.
Learner examples
The car scythed through the fence.
Az autó letarolta a kerítést.
Common mistake:
This is usually figurative and often used for disasters, violence, or fast-moving vehicles.
Meaning
cut down quickly and violently
Collocations
scythe through a crowd
|scythe through traffic
|scythe through the undergrowth
|scythe down pedestrians
|scythe down trees
|scythe down defenders
|scythe across a field
|be scythed down
Synonyms
plow through (Emphasizes forceful forward movement rather than cutting.)
|
cut down (More general; may not suggest speed or large numbers.)
|
tear through (Emphasizes speed and damage, less the ‘cutting’ image.)
Antonyms
miss (To pass without hitting or harming.)
Themes
news
|violence
|accidents
Definition
To destroy or hit many things quickly, as if cutting them down.
To cut or knock down many things or people quickly and forcefully, or to move through an area causing severe damage, in a way compared to a scythe cutting vegetation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
scythe
IPA
GB/sˈɪθ/
US/sˈɪθ/
Syllables & stress
scythe (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (scythe)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: scythe
- Plural: scythes
Verb
- Base: scythe
- 3rd Person Singular: scythes
- Present Participle: scything
- Past: scythed
Expressions
scythe down [someone/something]
1/sˈɪθ dˈaʊn sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
knock down many quickly
To make many people or things fall, quickly and violently.
Examples
- The blast scythed down the trees nearest the road.
- The rider was scythed down by a reckless driver.
- The winger scythed down his opponent and was shown a red card.
Learner examples
- The storm scythed down several trees.
scythe through [something]
1/sˈɪθ θɹˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
move through causing heavy damage
To go through something and damage a lot of it.
Examples
- A gust of wind scythed through the campsite, flattening two tents.
- The player scythed through the defense and scored.
- The falling tree scythed through the power lines.
Learner examples
- The ball scythed through the air.