to lance

Examples

• All

• His gaze lanced out at the faces of those around him.

  Fiction book (1998)

• A high, ominous whine lanced above the noise of the engines.

  Fiction book (1990)

• At first, it had been refreshing, the rain lancing out of the afternoon sky as she drove home from her art history class.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Light from the doorway lanced the bed.

  Fiction book (2002)

• March put a hand on his shoulder, gave him a shake, and pain lanced along his cheekbone.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Pain lanced his eyes, bringing with it a flood tide of mental pictures, compelling him to put pencil to paper.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Then the fit passed, and I slumped in the seat again, sweating, watching the headlight beams lance the darkness.

  Fiction book (1991)

• A dozen brilliant beams of white light lanced into the plaza, blinding rioters caught staring at them and turning night into artificial day.

  Fiction book (1996)

• Morning light lanced through windows in clinical shafts, illuminating buttery patches of furniture and hardwood floor.

  Fiction book (1995)

• The field was sunlit again, despite the stray raindrops, light lancing through gaps in the slowly dissipating clouds.

  Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

C

to cut

vsto lance

• Informal

343 2.8

To move quickly in a new direction, often to take a shortcut

is more forceful and aimed at breaking through rather than shortcutting

S

to slice through

vsto lance

10 4.1

Cut or move quickly and smoothly through air and water

is more forceful and impactful rather than mainly smooth motion

S

to slice into

vsto lance

3 4.2

Move a sharp object into something to cut it

moves swiftly and with stronger force rather than sometimes gentle passage

K

to knife

vsto lance

2 7.4

To move quickly and smoothly through water or snow

is stronger and swifter, emphasizing force over smooth passage

Antonyms

S

to slow down

687 1.4

To move or act more slowly

L

to linger

207 3.7

To stay in a place longer than expected because you do not want to leave

Idioms

B

to break one's lance

• Archaic

9.9

To fight strongly for a good cause in a brave, fair way

Compounds

L

lance corporal

2 7.1

A low rank in the army or marines above private first class and below corporal

F

fer-de-lance

• US

9.9

A large snake from Central and South America that gives a dangerous bite when threatened

F

free-lance

3.7

A person who sells their work to different companies or people without a long contract

S

sand lance

9.1

A small silvery fish that swims in schools and burrows into sand

How Fast

to sprint

46 1.0

to lance

1 6.4

to dash

73 1.0

to run

∞ 1.0

to walk

∞ 1.0

to creep

155 2.5

Surface Forms

Etymology