bread knife
Definition
- Noun:
- A knife used to cut bread: A kitchen utensil specifically designed for slicing bread. It typically has a long, serrated blade that allows it to cut through a bread loaf's crust and soft interior without crushing it.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Please use the bread knife to slice the baguette for dinner.
- A good bread knife is essential for any kitchen.
- The serrated edge of the bread knife makes cutting crusty bread easy.
Advanced Usage
- As a countable noun: It refers to a specific type of knife. It can be used in singular or plural forms.
- We received a set of bread knives as a wedding gift.
Variants and Related Words
- Serrated knife: A general term for any knife with a saw-like edge, which includes a bread knife.
- Carving knife: A knife for slicing meat, often with a long, smooth blade, contrasting with a serrated bread knife.
Synonyms
- Serrated knife (when used for bread)
- Bread slicer (less common)
Notes on Meaning
- The term specifically denotes the tool's primary function. Using a smooth-bladed knife to cut bread would not make that knife a "bread knife"; a bread knife is defined by its design (typically serrated) for this purpose.
- It is a compound noun where "bread" specifies the type of "knife." The definition is literal and functional.
Noun
-
a knife used to cut bread
