Phrase guide

putty knife

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A hand tool with a flexible blade used by glaziers to apply putty to seal window panes to the frame and mullions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a spatula used to mix or apply putty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spatula

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: couteau à mastic — a hand tool with a flexible blade used by glaziers to apply putty to seal window panes to the frame and mullions
  • Māori: rapa herepuru — a hand tool with a flexible blade used by glaziers to apply putty to seal window panes to the frame and mullions
  • Polish: szpachla — a hand tool with a flexible blade used by glaziers to apply putty to seal window panes to the frame and mullions
  • French: couteau à enduire — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • German: Spachtelmesser — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • German: Spachtel — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • German: Kittspachtel — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • German: Kittmesser — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Hungarian: spakli — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Hungarian: spakni — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Hungarian: spachtli — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Hungarian: simítókés — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Hungarian: kaparókanál — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Māori: rapa herepuru — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Polish: szpachla — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Swedish: spackel — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks
  • Ottoman Turkish: مابلاق (mablak) — a similar tool with a wide, flat blade used by painters, plasterers, and carpenters to spread putty to fill holes and cracks