Synonyms for

Spade

Verb / speɪd / Another word for spade — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a tool used for digging, with a flat blade and long handle

Synonyms & similar words

Synonyms by register

Antonyms

Common collocations

  • dig with a spade
  • use a spade
  • garden spade
  • spade handle
  • spade bit
  • spade work
  • digging spade

Word family

noun spade
verb spade

Usage note

While 'spade' can refer to a tool for digging, it can also refer to a suit in a deck of cards. Context usually clarifies the meaning.

Example sentences

  1. I used a spade to dig a hole for my tomato plant.
  2. My dad uses a spade to shovel snow from the driveway.
  3. The gardener used a spade to loosen the soil before planting the flowers.
  4. The construction worker used a spade to dig a trench for the pipes.
  5. I found a rusty old spade in the shed.

Quotes

  • 'A spade is a spade,' the old saying goes. But how do you define racism, and how do you navigate discussions of it? - The New York Times
  • 'The spade of the farmer,' said Lincoln, 'may be as noble as the sword of the warrior.' - Abraham Lincoln
  • 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' So spake Shakespeare, and he was right. - P.G. Wodehouse

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