Spade

/speɪd/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A tool for digging, typically consisting of a broad, flat blade with a long handle.

He used a spade to dig up the flower bed.

A playing card bearing one or more black symbols shaped like a heart with a stem.

She drew a spade from the deck during the game.

A spade (the suit) in a card game.

In poker, having three spades can make for a strong hand.

verb

To dig or move earth with a spade.

They began to spade the soil in preparation for planting.

Middle English 'spade', from Old English 'spæde', related to Proto-Germanic '*spēdō'.

call a spade a spade

To speak plainly and directly about something, without euphemism.

spade work

The preliminary, often less glamorous work done to prepare for something.

dig your own grave (with a spade)

To create a difficult situation for oneself.

shovel

A tool similar to a spade used for digging and moving bulk material.

garden fork

A tool with a handle and several prongs used for loosening soil.

hoe

A gardening tool with a long handle and a flat blade for shaping soil.

An offensive term for a Black person.

Using that term is considered highly disrespectful.

To spade someone means to deceive or cheat them.

He was spaded in the poker game.