Arrow vs. Spear — What's the Difference?

An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers called fletchings mounted near the rear, and a slot at the rear end called nock for engaging the bowstring.

A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as bone, flint, obsidian, iron, steel, or bronze (or other type of stone or metal).

A weapon consisting of a thin, straight stick with a sharp point, designed to be shot from a bow

A weapon with a pointed tip, typically of steel, and a long shaft, used for thrusting or throwing.

Move or appear to move swiftly and directly

A plant shoot, especially a pointed stem of asparagus or broccoli

A missile having a straight thin shaft and typically having a pointed head at one end and flight-stabilizing vanes at the tail end, meant to be shot from a bow.

Pierce or strike with a spear or other pointed object

Something, such as a directional symbol, that is similar to an arrow in form or function.

A weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharply pointed end.

To move like an arrow.

A shaft with a sharp point and barbs for spearing fish.

To shoot with an arrow

A soldier armed with a spear.

A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.

A slender stalk, as of asparagus.

A sign or symbol used to indicate a direction (e.g. →).

To pierce with a spear or other sharp object.

(graph theory) A directed edge.

To catch with a thrust of the arm

A dart.

(Football) To block (an opponent) by ramming with the helmet, in violation of the rules.

(computing) The -> symbol, which has specific meanings in various programming languages.

(Sports) To jab (an opponent) with the blade of a hockey stick, in violation of the rules.

(botany) The inflorescence or tassel of a mature sugar cane plant.

To stab at something with a spear or other sharp object.

(intransitive) To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).

To sprout like a spear.

(transitive) To let fly swiftly and directly.

A long stick with a sharp tip used as a weapon for throwing or thrusting, or anything used to make a thrusting motion.

To develop an inflorescence.

A soldier armed with such a weapon; a spearman.

To navigate using the arrow keys.

A lance with barbed prongs, used by fishermen to retrieve fish.

A missile weapon of offense, slender, pointed, and usually feathered and barbed, to be shot from a bow.

(ice hockey) An illegal maneuver using the end of a hockey stick to strike into another hockey player.

A mark to indicate a direction or relation

(wrestling) In professional wrestling, a running tackle in which the wrestler's shoulder is driven into the opponent's midsection.

A projectile with a straight thin shaft and an arrowhead on one end and stabilizing vanes on the other; intended to be shot from a bow

A shoot, as of grass; a spire.

The feather of a horse.

The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.

A long, thin strip from a vegetable.

(botany) The sprout of a plant, stalk

(obsolete) A church spire.

(transitive) To pierce with a spear.

To penetrate or strike with, or as if with, any long narrow object; to make a thrusting motion that catches an object on the tip of a long device.

(gridiron football) To tackle an opponent by ramming into them with one's helmet.

(intransitive) To shoot into a long stem, as some plants do.

To ignore as a social snub.

Male.

Pertaining to male family members.

A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head or blade; a lance.

Fig.: A spearman.

A sharp-pointed instrument with barbs, used for stabbing fish and other animals.

A shoot, as of grass; a spire.

The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.

To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.

To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See Spire.

A long pointed rod used as a weapon

An implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish

Pierce with a spear;

Thrust up like a spear;