Sickle

Pronunciation

• IPA: sɪklÌ©
• Rhymes: -ɪkÉ™l

Origin

From Old English sicol.

Full definition of sickle

Noun

1. (agriculture) an implement, having a semicircular blade and short handle, used for cutting long grass and cereal crops

Synonyms

• reap hook
• reaping hook

Verb

1. (agriculture, transitive) To cut with a sickle
2. (transitive) To deform (as with a red blood cell) into an abnormal crescent shape.
3. (intransitive) To assume an abnormal crescent shape. Used of red blood cells.

Derived terms

• (transitive: to deform) sickler

Adjective

1. Shaped like the blade of a sickle; crescent-shaped.a sickle moon

Related terms

• sickle cell anaemia, sickle-cell anaemia, sickle-cell anemia
• hammer and sickle