Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage
China

Language: Old English
Origin: sweord

sword

 noun
     
sword
sword [countable]
1 a weapon with a long pointed blade and a handle
2

a/the sword of Damocles

literary a bad thing that might happen at any time:
The treaty hung like a sword of Damocles over French politics.
3

put somebody to the sword

literaryPMW to kill someone with a sword
4

turn/beat swords into ploughshares

literary to start using money, equipment, and skills for peaceful purposes rather than for fighting

➔ cross swords (with somebody)

at cross1 (16)

; ➔ double-edged sword

at double-edged (1)
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