摘要：“Spear”源自古英语“speru”或“spere”，意为“矛”，与原始日耳曼语“*speru”有关，可能源于印欧语根“*sper-”（投掷、刺）。这一词根在其他日耳曼语言中也有类似形式，如古高地德语“sper”或古诺尔斯语“spjǫr”。“Spear”在英

spear

英 [spɪə(r)] 美 [spɪr]

n.矛；标枪 v.刺穿

“Spear”源自古英语“speru”或“spere”，意为“矛”，与原始日耳曼语“*speru”有关，可能源于印欧语根“*sper-”（投掷、刺）。这一词根在其他日耳曼语言中也有类似形式，如古高地德语“sper”或古诺尔斯语“spjǫr”。“Spear”在英语中自古便与狩猎、战争和权力象征相关，动词形式（用矛刺）在16世纪逐渐流行，扩展到比喻用法，如“引领”或“发起”（如“spearhead”一词的来源）。其意象始终围绕锋利、精准和力量。

◉外刊例句

① 《The Guardian》 (2023年8月10日)

Archaeologists uncovered a bronze spear, hinting at the tribe’s martial prowess.

考古学家发现了一支青铜矛，暗示了该部落的武力强盛。

② 《The Financial Times》 (2024年9月5日)

She was chosen to spear the campaign for sustainable energy across the region.

她被选为领导该地区可持续能源运动的先锋。

◉经典名著

① 《贝奥武夫》（Beowulf）——佚名 (约8-11世纪，英译本)

He gripped his spear, its iron tip gleaming, ready to face the beast.

他紧握长矛，铁制矛尖闪闪发光，准备面对那头野兽。

② 《坎特伯雷故事集》（The Canterbury Tales）——杰弗里·乔叟 (1387-1400年)

The knight’s spear struck true, piercing the foe with unyielding force.

骑士的长矛精准命中，以不可阻挡之力刺穿敌人。

◉Usage Examples

(1) The fisher used a spear as his weapon.

(2) The hunter hurled his spear at the tiger.

(3) The spear curved through the air.

(4) The athlete is trying to launch a spear.

(5) They were standing in the river spearing fish.

(1) 渔夫用矛作为武器。

(2) 猎人用力把他的长矛向虎投去。

(3) 标枪在空中沿曲线运动。

(4) 运动员正在用力投掷标枪。

(5) 他们站在河里叉鱼。

◉Usage Notes

A spear consists of a long shaft that has a sharp point at one end. You might use one to go spear fishing, but that's about it. Spears are no longer the weapon of choice.

Spear also refers to the action of impaling something or someone with a spear. “Odysseus blinded the Cyclops by jamming a huge spear into its eye.” In addition to the long-shafted, pointy spear that people throw, spear is the name for the sprout of a plant. In the vegetable world, separate stalks of asparagus are called spears.

1. [N-COUNT 可数名词]矛；投枪；梭镖 A spear is a weapon consisting of a long pole with a sharp metal point attached to the end.

2. [VERB 动词]用矛(投)刺；叉住 If you spear something, you push or throw a pointed object into it. [V n] [be V-ed to n]

Spear a piece of fish with a carving fork and dip it in the batter...

用切肉叉叉一片鱼肉，在面糊里蘸一下。

A police officer was speared to death.

一名警官被刺死了。

3. [N-COUNT 可数名词](芦笋、花椰菜等的)嫩茎 Asparagus or broccoli spears are individual stalks of asparagus or broccoli. [with supp]

来源：学无用的英语