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Glite Dictionary
butcher knife

butcher knife

13 3.2
A large sharp knife used for cutting meat
  • noun
  • /ˈbʊtʃər naɪf/
translation icon : cuchillo de carnicero
  • During the preparation for the feast, he reached for a sharp butcher knife to trim the steak.

Examples

  • I trust this is the first time the girl has cut her own hair with a butcher knife.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Then his free hand moved toward his jacket pocket, toward the butcher knife.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Her eyes immediately go to the gleaming butcher knife on the table.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Without thinking, I ran towards them, reaching into the pocket of my apron for the butcher knife I habitually carried.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The dog is devouring the leg of lamb on the floor. Mom grabs a butcher knife and takes off after Scotty.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • As he spoke, Seymour Noodnik approached them, butcher knife in hand, attracted by the commotion.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The chef skillfully used a butcher knife to chop the large cuts of meat.

  • At the market, I watched the butcher expertly wield a butcher knife to slice through the fresh cuts of pork.

Synonyms

knife
vsbutcher knife
  • NSFW
∞ 1.0

A tool with a sharp blade and handle used for cutting or as a weapon

is the specialized large sharp tool used mainly for meat preparation
cleaver
vsbutcher knife
28 3.5

A heavy knife with a large square blade used by butchers to cut meat and bone

is lighter and focused on precise cutting and trimming of meat
chopper
vsbutcher knife
  • US
7 4.5

A large heavy knife with a wide square blade for cutting meat

is sharper and used for cutting and trimming rather than chopping
meat cleaver
vsbutcher knife
6 2.7

A large heavy knife with a wide rectangular blade used to cut meat and bones

is sharper and used mainly for cutting and trimming meat rather than bone
carving knife
vsbutcher knife
6 2.3

A large sharp knife used to slice cooked meat

is for raw meat cutting and trimming, not slicing cooked meat
chopping knife
vsbutcher knife
1 2.8

A large heavy knife for chopping meat and vegetables

is designed for cutting and trimming meat, not heavy chopping
chopper knife
vsbutcher knife
  • US
4.9

A large heavy knife with a wide blade for cutting meat and vegetables

focuses on precise cutting and trimming meat rather than general chopping

How Large

meat cleaver
6 2.7
butcher knife
13 3.2
paring knife
5 3.2

Surface Forms

butcher knife singular
butcher knives plural

Morphology

butcher + knife

The meaning 'a large knife used for cutting or trimming meat' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents 'butcher' (meat cutter) + 'knife' (cutting blade). This straightforward noun–noun compounding is cross-linguistically common and follows transparent English compounding patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Butcher knife comes from the clear picture of a butcher holding a large knife to cut big pieces of meat. That's why the phrase means 'a large, sharp knife used for cutting meat'.