sword

UK: /ˈsɔː^rd/ US: /sɔrd/ ,(sôrd, sōrd)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sword /sɔrd/   n. [countable]

1. Military a weapon, typically having a long, sharp-edged blade attached to a handle or hilt.
2. this weapon as a symbol of military power, punishment, etc.:
   [often: singular] The pen is mightier than the sword.
3. Military military force or aggression, esp. war:
   [often: singular] to perish by the sword.

Idioms

4. Idioms cross swords, [no object*  (~ + with + object) ]
   • to engage in combat;
     fight.
   • to disagree violently;
     argue:
     The two were crossing swords at the last meeting. He crossed swords with her yet again.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sword  (sôrd, sōrd), n. 

1. Military a weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle.
2. this weapon as the symbol of military power, punitive justice, authority, etc.:
   The pen is mightier than the sword.
3. a cause of death or destruction.
4. Military war, combat, slaughter, or violence, esp. military force or aggression:
   to perish by the sword.
5. Military (cap.) the code name for one of the five D-Day invasion beaches on France's Normandy coast, assaulted by British forces.
6. at swords' points, mutually antagonistic or hostile;
   opposed:
   Father and son are constantly at swords' point.
7. cross swords:
   • to engage in combat;
     fight.
   • to disagree violently;
     argue:
     The board members crossed swords in the selection of a president.
8. put to the sword, to slay;
   execute:
   The entire population of the town was put to the sword.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English sweord; cognate with Dutch zwaard, German Schwert, Old Norse sverth

sword′less, adj. 
sword′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sword / sɔːd/ noun

1. a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two cutting edges, a hilt, and usually a crosspiece or guard
2. such a weapon worn on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of authority
3. something resembling a sword, such as the snout of a swordfish
4. fall on one's sword ⇒ to resign from one's position as a result of failure, wrongdoing, etc
5. to use one's sword to take one's own life
6. the sword ⇒ violence or power, esp military power
7. death; destruction: to put to the sword

Etymology: Old English sweord; related to Old Saxon swerd, Old Norse sverth, Old High German swert