knifelike

Knifelike is an adjective used to describe something that resembles a knife in shape, edge, or function. In general usage, it connotes a slender, elongated form with a sharp edge or a pointed tip, and it can also refer to qualities associated with cutting or piercing.

The term is formed from the noun knife plus the suffix -like, and it may appear as knifelike or knife-like depending on stylistic preference. It is commonly found in descriptive writing, technical descriptions of tools or weapons, and in discussions of anatomy or geology where a feature resembles a knife.

Common characteristics associated with knifelike objects include a tapering blade or edge, a pointed tip, and a flat or slightly curved cross-section that facilitates slicing or piercing. Materials can range from metal alloys to ceramics or other hard substances, and the geometry may be straight or curved to optimize cutting efficiency or penetration.

In usage, knifelike is descriptive rather than normative. It is applied to blades, edges, or projections that resemble a knife, as well as to non-literal contexts where the term suggests sharpness or effectiveness in cutting. Related terms include knife-like, blade-like, razor-like, and lancet-shaped, which serve similar descriptive purposes in different contexts.

See also: knife, blade, blade-like, knife-edge, sharpness.