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# spear

noun (a spear, spears); verb (spear, spears, speared, spearing)

«spear» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A long weapon or tool with a pointed tip, used for throwing or stabbing, especially for hunting or fishing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#m1)
2. A long thin pointed shoot of a plant, such as a spear of asparagus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#m2)
3. To push something pointed into something, such as spearing food with a fork. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#m3)
4. To catch or hunt with a spear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#m4)

### In the lessons

In history lessons, early humans and many peoples hunted and fished with spears. In everyday life «to spear a chip with your fork» means to stab food to pick it up. In cooking, asparagus comes in spears. Phrases: «throw a spear», «spear fishing», «asparagus spears», «spear a piece».

### Examples

- The hunters made spears from wood and sharp stones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x1)
- He threw the spear as far as he could. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x2)
- She speared a sausage with her fork. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x3)
- We had asparagus spears with dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x4)
- Some people go spear fishing near the reef. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x5)
- The warrior's spear had a bronze tip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x6)
- The heron speared a fish with its sharp beak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x7)
- In the museum we saw a spear used thousands of years ago. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x8)
- They snatched spears and shields from their foes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/#x9)

### Note

Plural «spears». «Spear» rhymes with «near». A javelin is a light spear thrown in sport. Do not confuse «spear» with «sphere» (a ball shape). Sharp sticks and spears are dangerous; only use them with an adult.

## In Jewish tradition

A spear is a weapon for fighting. The Torah tells of Phinehas taking one, Job describes a warhorse before the glittering spear, and King Rehoboam put spears in his cities' storehouses.

**Interpretation.** Phinehas took a spear to stop a plague among the Israelites. Tradition remembers his zeal and says God gave him a covenant of peace.

### Examples

- And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand. (Torah NUM.25.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spear/#x1)
- The quiver rattleth upon him, the glittering spear and the javelin. (Writings JOB.39.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spear/#x2)
- Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish-spears? (Writings JOB.40.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spear/#x3)
- And in every city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. (Writings 2CH.11.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spear/#x4)

### Note

Plural «spears». «Spear» rhymes with «near». A javelin is a light spear thrown in sport. Do not confuse «spear» with «sphere» (a ball shape). Sharp sticks and spears are dangerous; only use them with an adult.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «spear» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spear/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«spear» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spear.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «spear» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spear/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«spear» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/spear.html) on Mova free.