spearing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Sporting/Hunting (as a verb form). As a gerund or present participle, it is context-specific.
Quick answer
What does “spearing” mean?
The act of piercing, wounding, or securing something with a sharp-pointed object, typically a spear or spear-like implement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of piercing, wounding, or securing something with a sharp-pointed object, typically a spear or spear-like implement.
1. (Hunting/Fishing) Using a spear or spear-like tool to catch prey. 2. (Sports) In ice hockey or lacrosse, the illegal act of jabbing an opponent with the stick's blade or end. 3. (Cooking/Serving) Using a skewer or fork to pick up food. 4. (Figurative) Forcefully or suddenly entering a space or piercing through something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The sports context (hockey/lacrosse) is equally understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in hunting/fishing contexts, negative in sports contexts (illegal action).
Frequency
Higher frequency in North American media due to prominence of ice hockey.
Grammar
How to Use “spearing” in a Sentence
[Subject] was spearing [Object] (with [Instrument])[Subject] got a penalty for spearingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spearing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fisherman was spearing salmon in the river.
- He received a match penalty for spearing an opponent.
American English
- She was spearing pickles from the jar.
- The player got a five-minute major for spearing.
adverb
British English
- [Not a standard adverb form]
American English
- [Not a standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- [Not a standard adjective form]
American English
- [Not a standard adjective form]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The company is spearing into new markets.'
Academic
Used in historical, anthropological, or sporting studies.
Everyday
Mostly in cooking ('spearing a olive') or discussing sports penalties.
Technical
Hunting, fishing, and sports rulebooks.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spearing”
- Confusing 'spearing' (action with point) with 'sparing' (refraining).
- Using it as a general synonym for 'throwing' (a spear is thrown, but 'spearing' is the piercing action).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, only in specific sports contexts like hockey. In fishing or cooking, it is a neutral descriptive term.
Yes, e.g., 'His criticism was spearing directly into her argument,' but this is literary or figurative.
It is most commonly the gerund (verbal noun) or present participle of the verb 'to spear'.
Yes. 'Spearing' implies using a long, pointed instrument and often has a specific technical meaning in sports. 'Stabbing' is more general, often with a short blade and associated with crime or violence.
The act of piercing, wounding, or securing something with a sharp-pointed object, typically a spear or spear-like implement.
Spearing is usually technical/sporting/hunting (as a verb form). as a gerund or present participle, it is context-specific. in register.
Spearing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɪər.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɪr.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly with 'spearing']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPEARing = using a SPEAR to do something ING (ongoing action).
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTACK IS PENETRATION (He was spearing through the defence).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'spearing' typically a positive action?