a weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.-a soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.-a small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.-an instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.-one of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.-to pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.-to open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess.-to throw in the manner of a lance. see lanch.