spear
gb/spˈɪɹ/ us/spˈɪɹ/
A2
English
~ 4400
lándzsa, dárda, átszúr, felszúr, spárgaszál, hajtás, spárgasíp
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] holds/throws a spear
The warrior raised his spear before charging.
A harcos felemelte a lándzsáját, mielőtt rohamra indult.
She learned how to throw a spear accurately.
Megtanulta, hogyan kell pontosan lándzsát hajítani.
Ancient hunters often used spears to catch large animals.
The museum displayed a bronze-tipped spear from the Iron Age.
Learner examples
The man throws a spear.
A férfi lándzsát hajít.
He holds a long spear in his hand.
Egy hosszú lándzsát tart a kezében.
They hunt fish with a spear.
The soldier uses a spear in battle.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'spear' with 'arrow'. A spear is larger, held in the hand, and can be thrown or used for stabbing; an arrow is shot from a bow.
Meaning
Long pointed weapon
Collocations
throw a spear
|hunt with a spear
|spear fishing
|bronze-tipped spear
Synonyms
lance (Usually refers to a weapon used by soldiers on horseback rather than for throwing.)
Antonyms
shield (A defensive tool, opposite in function to an offensive weapon like a spear.)
Themes
weapons
|hunting
|history
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A long stick with a sharp point used to hurt animals or enemies.
A weapon with a long shaft and a sharp, pointed head, designed for thrusting or throwing.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] spears [something/someone]
He speared the fish with one quick motion.
Egyetlen gyors mozdulattal átszúrta a halat.
The chef speared the olives with a toothpick.
A séf fogpiszkálóval felszúrta az olajbogyókat.
A guard speared the intruder before he could escape.
Learner examples
He spears the fish in the water.
Lándzsával átszúrja a halat a vízben.
She spears the meat with a fork.
Villával felszúrja a húst.
The man spears the apple from the tree.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'spear' (to pierce) with 'throw'—a spear can be thrown, but 'to spear' means to pierce directly, not just to launch it.
Meaning
Pierce with pointed object
Collocations
spear a fish
|spear meat
|spear an intruder
Synonyms
stab (General term for piercing with any pointed object, not necessarily a spear.)
Antonyms
shield (To protect or block instead of attacking or piercing.)
Themes
weapons
|fishing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To push or hit something with a long sharp object.
To pierce or strike something with or as if with a spear or similar pointed object.
NOUN
B2
3
The chef arranged the asparagus spears neatly on the plate.
A séf szépen elrendezte a spárgaszálakat a tányéron.
Tender spears of broccoli were served as a side dish.
Köretként zsenge brokkoliszárakat tálaltak fel.
We harvested fresh spears from the garden this morning.
Learner examples
I eat three asparagus spears.
Három szál spárgát eszem.
The green spears are on the plate.
A zöld spárgaszálak a tányéron vannak.
She cuts the spears from the garden.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'spear' can refer to plants as well as weapons.
Meaning
Young rod-shaped plant shoot
Collocations
asparagus spears
|tender spears
Synonyms
shoot (General term for new plant growth; not all shoots are called spears.)
Themes
food
|plants
|food_drink
|nature
Definition
A young part of a plant that is long and thin, like asparagus before it grows fully.
A young shoot of certain edible plants, especially asparagus, that is long and slender like a small spear.
Grammar
Dictionary form
spear
IPA
GB/spˈɪɹ/
US/spˈɪɹ/
Syllables & stress
spear (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (spear)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: spear
- Plural: spears
Verb
- Base: spear
- 3rd Person Singular: spears
- Present Participle: spearing
- Past: speared
Word family
Forms
spears
noun
spearing
verb
speared
verb
Related words
spearhead
noun
spearfishing
noun
Advanced or less common
spearman
noun
Expressions
spear fishing
1/spˈɪɹ fˈɪʃɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Catch fish with pointed weapon underwater
Catching fish by swimming and using a sharp stick or gun to hit them.
Examples
- They went spear fishing off the coast of Hawaii.
- Spear fishing requires skill and patience.
spearhead
1/spˈɪɹhˌɛd/
fixed phrase
Lead or start something
To lead or be the main person starting an activity or project.
Examples
- She will spearhead the new marketing campaign.
- The movement was spearheaded by local activists.