spade

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a digging implement adapted for being pushed into the ground with the foot
2
: a spade-shaped instrument
spadeful noun

spade

2 of 3

verb

spaded; spading

transitive verb

: to dig up or out or shape with or as if with a spade

intransitive verb

: to use a spade
spader noun

spade

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
a
: a black figure that resembles a stylized spearhead on each playing card of one of the four suits
also : a card marked with this figure
b
spades plural in form but singular or plural in construction : the suit comprising cards marked with spades
2
offensive
used as an insulting and contemptuous term for a Black person
Phrases
in spades
: to an unusually great degree : in the extreme

Examples of spade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
To pass might be right, but your raise to three clubs was based more on distribution than on sound high-card values, and if partner has something in spades, the defenders may attack hearts successfully. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 Yet the show delivered entertainment and emotion in spades, if not surprise. Alison Herman, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Nearby Cancun offers more extensive options for medical care. 04 San Juan Islands, Washington Instead of a tropical island, some retirees prefer cool air, winter snows, and pine forests — and this archipelago in Puget Sound offers all of that in spades. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2024 Explore Louisiana 10 of 20 Maryland: St. Michaels This gorgeous Eastern Shore enclave has everything in spades—a spectacular waterfront resort, a stunning maritime museum, a humming little downtown, and charming historic homes. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 When North issued a limit raise, East came in with three spades. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024 In Swank’s capable hands, the character’s predictable arc is made formidable, conjuring sympathy and strength in spades. Courtney Howard, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 That came through in spades, to me, in the Smile fragments. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2024 Acting ability is another question, however, and some of my siblings have that skill in spades. Sarah Schutte, National Review, 18 Feb. 2024
Verb
Use a spading fork to dig tubers on a sunny day when the soil is dry. Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 29 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, going back to Old English spadu, spædu, spade (plural spadan), going back to Germanic *spaðōn- (whence also Old Saxon spado "digging implement, spade," Old Frisian spada, early Modern German Spaten, Icelandic spaði), akin to Greek spáthē "any of various blade-like implements or objects," both going back to Indo-European *sph2-dh-, perhaps a suffixed derivative of the verbal base *speh2- "draw, pull out" — more at spasm

Note: Hittite išpann-, išpatar "spit, skewer" has also been compared, though according to Jaan Puhvel the stem would reflect *speh2-tr- rather than *speh2-dhr- (see Hittite Etymological Dictionary, vol. 1/2, pp. 450-51). Probably also relevant are Sanskrit sphya- "shoulder blade," Khotanese phvai "spade, shovel," perhaps reflecting *sph2-i-o- (for further Indo-Iranian forms see Manfred Mayrhofer, Kurzgefasstes etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen, 3. Band, p. 547; H.W. Bailey, Dictionary of Khotan Saka, Cambridge, 1979, p. 264).

Verb

verbal derivative of spade entry 1

Noun (2)

Italian spada or Spanish espada broadsword; both from Latin spatha, from Greek spathē blade

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1647, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of spade was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near spade

Cite this Entry

“Spade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spade. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spade

1 of 3 noun
1
: a digging tool like a shovel made so that it can be pushed into the ground with the foot
2
: a spade-shaped instrument
spadeful noun

spade

2 of 3 verb
spaded; spading
: to dig with or use a spade

spade

3 of 3 noun
1
: a black figure resembling an inverted heart with a short stem at the bottom used to indicate a suit of playing cards
2
: a card of the suit of spades
Etymology

Noun

Old English spadu "a digging tool"

Noun

from Italian spada or Spanish espada, both meaning "broad sword" and both from Latin spatha "blade"

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