knife-edge
knife-edge · knife-edges
лезвие ножа
Messers Schneide
A small piece of metal, usually steel, sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and…A small piece of metal, usually steel, sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the fulcrum of a pendulum, scalebeam, or other piece required to oscillate with minimal friction.
Meaning
3 sensesA small piece of metal, usually steel, sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the fulcrum of a pendulum, scalebeam, or other piece required to oscillate with minimal friction.
(figuratively)A precarious balance that could be upset by a very small force in either direction.
The game was on a knife-edge.
Messers Schneide
ле́звие ножа́lézvije nožá
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: the edge of a knife.
More definitions
- a narrow boundary
Translations
6 languagesРусский
By meaning 1
a precarious balance:
Deutsch
By meaning 1
a precarious balance:
Forms
plural: knife-edgesWord family
1 related wordsDerivedknife-edge effect