Spade/speɪd/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Gardening Context The term 'spade' is often used in gardening or farming contexts to refer to digging tools. He grabbed a spade to turn over the soil. Pro Tip 2/3Physical Activity 'Spade' implies physical effort; it's used when someone is doing manual labor. We need strong volunteers to spade the new flowerbeds. Pro Tip 3/3Shape Specific A spade has a specific shape; it's different from a general shovel due to its sharp, flat end. Use a spade for the edges, not a rounded shovel.