Standard Lemma guide

switchblade

noun · verb · 5 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈswɪt͡ʃˌbleɪd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S W IH1 CH B L EY2 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A folding knife with a blade which opens automatically (under spring pressure) when a button is pressed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To attack or cut with a switchblade.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To spring open or up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To (cause to) make a sudden move or transition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

a pocketknife with a blade that springs open at the press of a button

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: switchblade knife, flick-knife, flick knife

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pocketknife, pocket knife

History

Etymology

From switch + blade.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 彈簧刀 /弹簧刀 (tánhuángdāo) — type of folding knife
  • Czech: vystřelovací nůž — type of folding knife
  • Czech: vystřelovák — type of folding knife
  • Danish: springkniv — type of folding knife
  • Dutch: stiletto — type of folding knife
  • Dutch: springmes — type of folding knife
  • Dutch: vouwmes — type of folding knife
  • Estonian: pussnuga — type of folding knife
  • Finnish: stiletti — type of folding knife
  • French: couteau à cran d'arrêt — type of folding knife
  • German: Springmesser — type of folding knife
  • Japanese: 飛び出しナイフ — type of folding knife
  • Norwegian Bokmål: sprettkniv — type of folding knife
  • Norwegian Bokmål: springkniv — type of folding knife
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: sprettkniv — type of folding knife
  • Polish: nóż sprężynowy — type of folding knife
  • Polish: sprężynowiec — type of folding knife
  • Spanish: navaja automática — type of folding knife
  • Spanish: cuchillo automático — type of folding knife
  • Swedish: stilett — type of folding knife
  • Swedish: springkniv — type of folding knife
  • Thai: มีดสปริง — type of folding knife
  • Thai: มีดพกสปริง — type of folding knife
  • Turkish: sustalı çakı — type of folding knife
  • Polish: atakować nożem sprężynowym — attack or cut with a switchblade
  • Polish: zaatakować nożem sprężynowym — attack or cut with a switchblade