Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A Japanese art of self-defense in which sharp blows and kicks are administered to pressure-sensitive points on the body of an opponent.
Wiktionary
- n. An Okinawan martial art involving primarily punching and kicking, but additionally, advanced throws, arm bars, grappling and all means of fighting.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. a traditional Japanese system of unarmed combat; sharp blows and kicks are given to pressure-sensitive points on the body of the opponent.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a traditional Japanese system of unarmed combat; sharp blows and kicks are given to pressure-sensitive points on the body of the opponent
Etymologies
- Borrowed from Japanese 空手 (karate), from 唐手 (karate), from Okinawan 唐手 (tūdī, "empty hand"). (Wiktionary)
- Japanese : kara, empty + te, hand. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“But I was in what I call my karate state—a heightened level of consciousness typified by perceptual vigilance.”
“He holds a second-degree black belt in karate, a yellow belt in jiu jitsu, and works for the Canadian Federal Public Service.”
“In his 2004 case before the Federal Court, the government made submissions that his interest in karate could infer his involvement in terrorism,”
Attn CSIS: American Airlines Flight 93 Doesn’t Exist : Law is Cool
“James im watching that free movie downloads this was a terrible idea. and karate is japanese, jackie chan is chinese ... should be the kung-fu kid. leaveitbe”
“I know nothing about this and I don't want to just be negative for its sake, but, you know, in movies, frankly, karate is sort of .... boring.”
Badass Japanese Movie Trailer for The Last Airbender | /Film
“First blind person to receive black belt in karate in Australia stars in TV ad”
First blind person to receive black belt in karate in Australia stars in TV ad
“Dawson Ko, 24, received his black belt in karate in March 2007, making him the first blind person in Australia to earn a black belt.”
First blind person to receive black belt in karate in Australia stars in TV ad
“Media dis&dat: First blind person to receive black belt in karate in Australia stars in TV ad skip to main | skip to sidebar”
First blind person to receive black belt in karate in Australia stars in TV ad
“He's in China so that would be Kung Fu or something seeing that karate is Japanese.”
Karate Kid Remake Earned Second Highest Test Screening Score In Sony History? | /Film
“Fortunately, karate is originally a Chinese art form, so that's the area we're playing around in.”
Will Smith’s Search For Mr. Miyagi Continues As ‘Karate Kid’ Remake Moves To China » MTV Movies Blog
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘karate’.
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A-R-A Words
It's an odd-looking pattern in English. Please add words if it makes you happy. :) K-POW! Wow @gulyasrobi!
scarab, Arawak, Sahara, Arab, pharaoh, caravan, carat, parachute, arachnid, Saran Wrap, Sarah, tarantella and 492 more...
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SPOR - Olympic glossary
weightlift, orbitale, figure skate, speed skate, synchronizer, equestrian sport, bobsleigh, starting block, diesis, ligne, piste, water ski and 521 more...
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Elvis
Elvis Aaron Presley, Elvis Aron Presley, Elvis Presley, Elvis, elvis, the king, bubba, Sun Records, meeting with Nixon, blue suede shoes, Elvis Costello, graceland and 44 more...
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Chop Socky
Martial arts. Hi-ya!
karate, boxing, savate, kung fu, tae kwon do, pankration, kendo, ninjitsu, capoeira, kickboxing, tessenjutsu, hapkido and 11 more...
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zanshin's Words
gargoyle, ennui, paradigm, aardvark, verisimilitude, ghoti, tenacity, nescience, guillemet, squonk, maven, moxie and 210 more...
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NihonGoose's Words
colander, doily, nacre, mandible, carapace, glutinous, penumbral, skein, mollify, colloquial, sanguine, chagrin and 118 more...
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the physical experience
wank, snog, tendon, sinew, sauce shelf, pet, arse, astigmatism, bisexual, brassiere, breast, climax and 186 more...
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spamdad's Words
lambic, weizenbock, bock, zymurgy, vade mecum, quotidian, sesquipedalian, eremite, sphragis, privation, aegis, sui generis and 275 more...
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A History of Violence
rampart, riposte, kris, claymore, cleave, caponier, jujitsu, ninja, rapier, bayonet, shiv, ballistics and 16 more...
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A Recipe for Uselessness
Stuff I've done, organizations I've been part of, unique points of interest regarding my past. Each factor plays a role in who I have become today.
boy scouts, spelling bee, homeschool, debate team, toastmasters, sailing, church, candy striper, horseback riding, karate, aikido, web design and 49 more...
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them's fighting words
punch, attack, aggravate, struggle, combat, battle, hit, pelt, injure, weapons, fists, fisticuffs and 51 more...
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Sportie: Combat
boxing, ring, punching bag, round, hook, uppercut, jab, corner, southpaw, wrestling, greco-roman, wrestler and 25 more...
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Body Combat!
Body Combat is a Les Mills group fitness program, based on a whole bunch of martial arts disciplines, but non-contact.
It's incredibly fun, even for a lazy, shut-in like me. I've been doing i...karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, kickboxing, muay thai, capoeira, thai chi, jab, cross, upper cut, hook, body rip and 31 more...
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Korniko's Words
quixotic, existential, archaic, black, cheap, laser, jungle, tropical, listed, festive, survey, blind and 87 more...
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Japanese loanwords
Japanese and Japanese-derived words that have gained use in English.
honcho, daimyo, futon, sushi, shogun, samurai, sashimi, anime, manga, haiku, ikebana, karate and 10 more...
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Asian Terms
Interesting words from Asian languages (Japanese, Chinese, Sanskrit, etc.).
Palabras interesantes de idiomas asiáticos (japonés, chino, sánscrito, etc.).karma, bonzo, nintendo, kamikaze, banzai, tantra, yoga, yin, yang, zen, tao, dao and 6 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for karate.

whichbe Means "empty hand." May 7, 2008