Library / English Dictionary

SPADE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sturdy hand shovel that can be pushed into the earth with the foot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spade" is a kind of...):

hand shovel (a shovel that is operated by hand)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spade"):

ditch spade; long-handled spade (a spade with a long handle for digging narrow ditches)

garden spade (a spade used by gardeners)

Derivation:

spade (dig (up) with a spade)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it

Example:

spades were trumps

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spade" is a kind of...):

playing card (one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games)

Holonyms ("spade" is a member of...):

major suit ((bridge) a suit of superior scoring value, either spades or hearts)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dig (up) with a spade

Example:

I spade compost into the flower beds

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "spade" is one way to...):

cut into; delve; dig; turn over (turn up, loosen, or remove earth)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spade"):

ridge (spade into alternate ridges and troughs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

spade (a sturdy hand shovel that can be pushed into the earth with the foot)

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