kn -abbr

  1. knot

knack ['nak] -n

  1. a clever trick or stratagem
  2. a clever way of doing something
  3. a special ready capacity that is hard to analyze or teach
  4. an ingenious device
  5. toy, knickknack

knack·er ['na-kər] -n

  1. a buyer of worn-out domestic animals or their carcasses for use esp. as animal food or fertilizer
  2. a buyer of old structures for their constituent materials

knack·ered ['na-kərd] -adj

  1. tired, exhausted

knackwurst ['näk-(,)wərst also -,vu̇(r)st, sometimes -,vu̇sht] -n

(variant of knockwurst)

  1. a short thick heavily seasoned sausage

knap ['nap] -n

  1. a crest of a hill : summit
  2. a small hill
  3. rap
  4. to break with a quick blow
  5. to shape (as flints) by breaking off pieces
  6. snap, crop
  7. chatter

knap·sack ['nap-,sak] -n, adj

  1. a bag (as of canvas or nylon) strapped on the back and used for carrying supplies or personal belongings

knap·weed [-,wēd] -n

  1. any of various weedy centaureas
  2. a widely naturalized European perennial ( Centaurea nigra) with tough wiry stems and knobby heads of purple flowers

knave ['nāv] -n

  1. a boy servant
  2. a male servant
  3. a man of humble birth or position
  4. a tricky deceitful fellow
  5. jack

knav·ery ['nā-və-rē, 'nāv-rē] -n

  1. rascality
  2. a roguish or mischievous act
  3. roguish mischief

knav·ish ['nā-vish] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a knave
  2. dishonest

knead ['nēd] -vt, adj, n

  1. to work and press into a mass with or as if with the hands
    • knead ing dough
  2. to manipulate or massage with a kneading motion
    • knead ed sore neck muscles
  3. to form or shape by or as if by kneading

knee ['nē] -n, adj

  1. a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella
  2. the part of the leg that includes this joint
  3. the joint in the hind leg of a four-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee
  4. the carpal joint of the foreleg of a four-footed vertebrate
  5. the tarsal joint of a bird
  6. the joint between the femur and tibia of an insect
  7. : something resembling the human knee: as
  8. a piece of timber naturally or artificially bent for use in supporting structures coming together at an angle (as the deck beams of a ship)
  9. a rounded or conical process rising from the roots of various swamp-growing trees
    • cypress knee
  10. the part of a garment covering the knee
  11. a blow with the bent knee
  12. to bend the knee to
  13. to strike with the knee

knee breeches -n pl

  1. breech

knee·cap ['nē-,kap] -n

  1. patella

knee·cap·ping ['nē-,ka-piŋ] -n, vt

  1. the terroristic act or practice of maiming a person's knees (as by gunshot)

kneedeep [-'dēp] -adj

  1. sunk to the knees
    • kneedeep in mud
  2. deeply engaged or occupied
    • kneedeep in work
  3. knee-high

kneehigh [-'hī] -adj, n

  1. rising or reaching upward to the knees
    • kneehigh stockings

knee·hole [-,hōl] -n

  1. an open space (as under a desk) for the knees

kneejerk ['nē-,jərk, -'jərk] -adj

  1. readily predictable : automatic
    • kneejerk reactions
  2. reacting in a readily predictable way
    • kneejerk liberals

knee jerk -n

  1. an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow on the tendon below the patella

kneel ['nēl] -vi

  1. to bend the knee : fall or rest on the knees

kneel·er ['nē-lər] -n

  1. one that kneels
  2. something (as a cushion or board) to kneel on

knee·pan ['nē-,pan] -n

  1. patella

kneeslap·per [-,sla-pər] -n

  1. an extremely funny joke, line, or story

knee·sock [-,säk] -n

  1. a knee-high sock

knell ['nel] -vb

  1. to summon or announce by or as if by a knell
  2. to ring esp. for a death, funeral, or disaster : toll
  3. to sound in an ominous manner or with an ominous effect
  4. a stroke or sound of a bell esp. when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster)
  5. an indication of the end or the failure of something
    • sounded the death knell for our hopes

knew ['nō] -vb, adj, n

(variant of know)

  1. to perceive directly : have direct cognition of
  2. to have understanding of
    • importance of know ing oneself
  3. to recognize the nature of : discern
  4. to recognize as being the same as something previously known
  5. to be acquainted or familiar with
  6. to have experience of
  7. to be aware of the truth or factuality of : be convinced or certain of
  8. to have a practical understanding of
    • know s how to write
  9. to have sexual intercourse with
  10. to have knowledge
  11. to be or become cognizant sometimes used interjectionally with you esp. as a filler in informal speech
  12. knowledge

knick·er·bock·er ['ni-kə(r)-,bä-kər] -n

  1. a descendant of the early Dutch settlers of New York
  2. a native or resident of the city or state of New York used as a nickname
  3. knickers

knick·ers ['ni-kərz] -n pl

  1. loose-fitting short pants gathered at the knee
  2. underpants

knick·knack ['nik-,nak] -n

  1. a small trivial article usu. intended for ornament

knife ['nīf] -n, adj

  1. a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle
  2. a weapon resembling a knife
  3. a sharp cutting blade or tool in a machine
  4. surgery usu. used in the phrase under the knife
  5. to use a knife on
  6. to stab, slash, or wound with a knife
  7. to cut, mark, or spread with a knife
  8. to try to defeat by underhanded means
  9. to move like a knife in
    • birds knifing the autumn sky
  10. to cut a way with or as if with a knife blade
    • the cruiser knifed through the heavy seas

knifeedge ['nīf-,ej] -n

  1. a sharp wedge of steel or other hard material used as a fulcrum for a lever beam in a precision instrument
  2. a sharp narrow knifelike edge

knife·point [-,pȯint] -n

  1. the point of a knife

knight ['nīt] -n

  1. a mounted man-at-arms serving a feudal superior
  2. a man ceremonially inducted into special military rank usu. after completing service as page and squire
  3. a man honored by a sovereign for merit and in Great Britain ranking below a baronet
  4. a person of antiquity equal to a knight in rank
  5. a man devoted to the service of a lady as her attendant or champion
  6. a member of an order or society
  7. either of two pieces of each color in a set of chessmen having the power to make an L-shaped move of two squares in one row and one square in a perpendicular row over squares that may be occupied
  8. to make a knight of

knighter·rant ['nīt-'er-ənt] -n

  1. a knight traveling in search of adventures in which to exhibit military skill, prowess, and generosity

knighter·rant·ry [-'er-ən-trē] -n

  1. the practice or actions of a knight-errant
  2. quixotic conduct

knight·hood ['nīt-,hu̇d] -n

  1. the rank, dignity, or profession of a knight
  2. the qualities befitting a knight : chivalry
  3. knights as a class or body

knight·ly ['nīt-lē] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a knight
    • tales of knightly adventures
  2. made up of knights

Knight of Co·lum·bus [-kə-'ləm-bəs] -n

  1. a member of a benevolent and fraternal society of Roman Catholic men

Knight of Pyth·i·as [-'pi-thē-əs] -n

  1. a member of a secret benevolent and fraternal order

Knight of the Mac·ca·bees [-'ma-kə-,bēz] -n

  1. a member of a secret benevolent society

Knight Templar -n

  1. templar
  2. a member of an order of Freemasonry conferring three orders in the York rite

knish [kə-'nish] -n

  1. a small round or square of dough stuffed with a filling (as potato) and baked or fried

knit ['nit] -vb, n

  1. to tie together
  2. to link firmly or closely
    • knitted my hands
  3. to cause to grow together
    • time and rest will knit a fractured bone
  4. to contract into wrinkles
    • knitted her brow
  5. to form by interlacing yarn or thread in a series of connected loops with needles
  6. to make knitted fabrics or objects
  7. to become compact
  8. to grow together
  9. to become drawn together
  10. knit stitch
  11. a knit fabric
  12. knitwear

knit stitch -n

  1. a basic knitting stitch usu. made with the yarn at the back of the work by inserting the right needle into the front part of a loop on the left needle from the left side, catching the yarn with the point of the right needle, and bringing it through the first loop to form a new loop

knit·ting -n

  1. the action or method of one that knits
  2. work done or being done by one that knits

knit·wear ['nit-,wer] -n

  1. knitted clothing

knob ['näb] -n, adj

  1. a rounded protuberance : lump
  2. a small rounded ornament or handle
  3. a rounded usu. isolated hill or mountain

knob·bly ['nä-b(ə-)lē] -adj

  1. having very small knobs
    • a knobbly walking stick

knob·ker·rie ['näb-,ker-ē] -n

  1. a short wooden club with a knob at one end used as a missile or in close attack esp. by Zulus of southern Africa

knock ['näk] -vb

  1. to strike something with a sharp blow
  2. to collide with something
  3. bustle
    • heard them knock ing around in the kitchen
  4. wander
    • knock ed about Europe all summer
  5. to make a pounding noise
  6. to have engine knock
  7. to find fault
  8. to strike sharply
  9. to drive, force, or make by or as if by so striking
    • was knock ed out of the campaign
  10. to set forcibly in motion with a blow
  11. to cause to collide
  12. to find fault with
    • always knock ing those in authority
  13. a sharp blow : rap, hit
    • a loud knock on the door
  14. a severe misfortune or hardship
  15. setback, reversal
  16. a pounding noise
  17. a sharp repetitive metallic noise caused by abnormal ignition in an automobile engine
  18. a harsh and often petty criticism
    • the knock on him was that he couldn't handle the pressure

knock·about ['näk-ə-,bau̇t] -adj, n

  1. suitable for rough use
    • knockabout clothing
  2. being noisy and rough : boisterous
    • knockabout games
  3. characterized by boisterous antics and often extravagant burlesque
    • knockabout comedy
  4. having a simplified rig marked by absence of bowsprit and topmast
    • a knockabout sloop

knock back -vt

  1. drink, swallow
  2. to toss down (an alcoholic beverage)

knock·down ['näk-,dau̇n] -adj

  1. having such force as to strike down or overwhelm
    • a bewildering assortment of knockdown arguments -- J. W. Krutch
  2. that can easily be assembled or disassembled
    • a knockdown table
  3. extremely low : reduced
    • knockdown prices

knockdown -n

  1. the action of knocking down
  2. something (as a blow) that strikes down or overwhelms
  3. something (as a piece of furniture) that can be easily assembled or disassembled

knock down [-'dau̇n] -vt

  1. to strike to the ground with or as if with a sharp blow : fell
  2. to dispose of (an item) to a bidder at an auction sale
  3. to take apart : disassemble
  4. to receive as income or salary : earn
    • positions where they were able to knock down good money -- Infantry Jour.
  5. reduce
    • knocked the price down

knockdown, dragout -adj, n

  1. marked by extreme violence or bitterness and by the showing of no mercy
    • knockdown, dragout political debates

knock·er ['nä-kər] -n

  1. : one that knocks: as
  2. a metal ring, bar, or hammer hinged to a door for use in knocking
  3. a persistently pessimistic critic
  4. breast usu. used in pl.

knockknee ['näk-'nē, -,nē] -n, adj

  1. a condition in which the legs curve inward at the knees

knock·off ['näk-,ȯf] -n

  1. a copy that sells for less than the original
  2. a copy or imitation of someone or something popular

knock off -vi

  1. to stop doing something
  2. to do hurriedly or routinely
    • knocked off one painting after another
  3. discontinue, stop
    • knocked off work at five
  4. deduct
    • knocked off a little to make the price more attractive
  5. kill
    • knocked off two men...on mercenary grounds -- Lewis Baker
  6. overcome, defeat
    • knocked off each center of rebellion
  7. rob
    • knocked off a couple of banks
  8. to make a knockoff of : copy, imitate
    • knocks off popular dress designs

knock·out ['näk-,au̇t] -n

  1. the act of knocking out : the condition of being knocked out
  2. the termination of a boxing match when one boxer has been knocked down and is unable to rise and resume boxing within a specified time
  3. technical knockout
  4. a blow that knocks out an opponent
  5. a sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive person or thing

knockout -adj

  1. causing a knockout
    • a knockout blow
  2. sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive
    • a knockout dress
  3. having all or part of a gene eliminated or inactivated by genetic engineering
    • knockout mice predisposed to diabetes mellitus

knock out -vt

  1. to produce roughly or hastily
  2. to defeat (a boxing opponent) by a knockout
  3. to make unconscious
    • the drug knocked him out
  4. to make inoperative or useless
    • electricity was knocked out by the storm
  5. to get rid of : eliminate
    • knocked out illegal gambling
  6. to tire out : exhaust
    • knocked themselves out with work
  7. to cause (an opposing pitcher) to be removed from a baseball game by a batting rally

knockout drops -n pl

  1. drops of a solution of a drug (as chloral hydrate) put into a drink to produce unconsciousness or stupefaction

knock over -vt

  1. to strike to the ground : fell
  2. overwhelm
    • was knocked over by the news
  3. eliminate
    • knocked over every difficulty
  4. steal
  5. hijack
    • knocks over a truckload of merchandise -- J. B. Martin
  6. rob
    • knocking over a bank

knock up -vt

  1. rouse, summon
  2. to make pregnant

knock·wurst ['näk-(,)wərst also -,vu̇(r)st, sometimes -,vu̇sht] -n

  1. a short thick heavily seasoned sausage

knoll ['nōl] -n

  1. a small round hill : mound
  2. knell

knop ['näp] -n, adj

  1. a usu. ornamental knob

knot ['nät] -n

  1. an interlacement of the parts of one or more flexible bodies forming a lump or knob (as for fastening or tying together)
  2. the lump or knob so formed
  3. a tight constriction or the sense of constriction
    • my stomach was all in knot s
  4. something hard to solve : problem
    • a matter full of legal knot s
  5. a bond of union
  6. the marriage bond
  7. a protuberant lump or swelling in tissue
    • a knot in a gland
  8. the base of a woody branch enclosed in the stem from which it arises
  9. its section in lumber
  10. a cluster of persons or things : group
  11. an ornamental bow of ribbon : cockade
  12. a division of the log's line serving to measure a ship's speed
  13. one nautical mile per hour
  14. one nautical mile not used technically
  15. a closed curve in three-dimensional space
  16. to tie in or with a knot : form knots in
  17. to unite closely or intricately : entangle
  18. tie
    • knotted the score
  19. to form knots
  20. either of two sandpipers ( Calidris canutusand C. tenuirostris) that breed in the Arctic and winter in temperate or warm parts of the New and Old World

knot garden -n

  1. an elaborately designed garden esp. of flowers or herbs

knot·grass ['nät-,gras] -n

  1. a cosmopolitan prostrate weed ( Polygonum aviculare) of the buckwheat family with jointed stems, prominent sheathing stipules, and minute flowers
  2. any of several congeneric plants
  3. any of several grasses (as Paspalum distichum) with markedly jointed stems

knot·hole [-,hōl] -n

  1. a hole in a board or tree trunk where a knot or branch has come out

knotted -adj

  1. tied in or with a knot
  2. full of knots : gnarled
  3. knotty
  4. ornamented with knots or knobs

knot theory -n

  1. a branch of topology concerned with the properties and classification of mathematical knots

knot·ty ['nä-tē] -adj, n

  1. marked by or full of knots
  2. so full of difficulties and complications as to be likely to defy solution
    • a knotty problem

knotty pine -n

  1. pine wood that has a decorative distribution of knots and is used esp. for interior finish

knot·weed ['nät-,wēd] -n

  1. any of several herbs (genus Polygonum) of the buckwheat family with leaves and bracts jointed and having a very short petiole
  2. polygonum

knout ['nau̇t, sometimes 'nüt] -n, vt

  1. a whip used for flogging

know ['nō] -vb, adj, n

  1. to perceive directly : have direct cognition of
  2. to have understanding of
    • importance of know ing oneself
  3. to recognize the nature of : discern
  4. to recognize as being the same as something previously known
  5. to be acquainted or familiar with
  6. to have experience of
  7. to be aware of the truth or factuality of : be convinced or certain of
  8. to have a practical understanding of
    • know s how to write
  9. to have sexual intercourse with
  10. to have knowledge
  11. to be or become cognizant sometimes used interjectionally with you esp. as a filler in informal speech
  12. knowledge

knowall ['nō-,ȯl] -n

  1. know-it-all

knowhow ['nō-,hau̇] -n

  1. knowledge of how to do something smoothly and efficiently : expertise

knowing -n

  1. acquaintance, cognizance
  2. having or reflecting knowledge, information, or intelligence
  3. shrewdly and keenly alert : astute
    • a knowing observer
  4. indicating possession of exclusive inside knowledge or information
    • a knowing smile
  5. cognitive
  6. deliberate
    • knowing interference in the affairs of another

knowitall ['nō-ət-,ȯl] -n, adj

  1. one who claims to know everything
  2. one who disdains advice

knowl·edge ['nä-lij] -n

  1. cognizance
  2. the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association
  3. acquaintance with or understanding of a science, art, or technique
  4. the fact or condition of being aware of something
  5. the range of one's information or understanding
    • answered to the best of my knowledge
  6. the circumstance or condition of apprehending truth or fact through reasoning : cognition
  7. the fact or condition of having information or of being learned
    • a person of unusual knowledge
  8. sexual intercourse
  9. the sum of what is known : the body of truth, information, and principles acquired by humankind
  10. a branch of learning

knowl·edge·able ['nä-lij-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. having or showing knowledge or intelligence

knowledge engineering -n

  1. a branch of artificial intelligence that emphasizes the development and use of expert systems

known -adj

  1. generally recognized
    • a known authority on art

knownoth·ing ['nō-,nə-thiŋ] -n, adj

  1. ignoramus
  2. agnostic
  3. a member of a 19th century secret American political organization hostile to the political influence of recent immigrants and Roman Catholics

knownoth·ing·ism [-thiŋ-,i-zəm] -n

  1. the principles and policies of the Know-Nothings
  2. the condition of knowing nothing or desiring to know nothing or the conviction that nothing can be known with certainty esp. in religion or morality
  3. a mid-20th century political attitude characterized by anti-intellectualism, exaggerated patriotism, and fear of foreign subversive influences

knuck·le ['nə-kəl] -n, adj

  1. the rounded prominence formed by the ends of the two adjacent bones at a joint used esp. of those at the joints of the fingers
  2. the joint of a knuckle
  3. a cut of meat consisting of the tarsal or carpal joint with the adjoining flesh
  4. : something resembling a knuckle: as
  5. one of the joining parts of a hinge through which a pin or rivet passes
  6. knuckle joint
  7. the meeting of two surfaces at a sharp angle (as in a roof)
  8. a pivotal point
  9. a set of metal finger rings or guards attached to a transverse piece and worn over the front of the doubled fist for use as a weapon called also brass knuckles

knuckle ['nə-k(ə-)liŋ] -vb

  1. to place the knuckles on the ground in shooting a marble
  2. to press or rub with the knuckles

knuck·le·ball ['nə-kəl-,bȯl] -n

  1. a slow baseball pitch that moves erratically and unpredictably and that is thrown with little spin by gripping the ball with the knuckles or the tips of the fingers pressed against the top

knuck·le·bone ['nək-əl-,bōn] -n

  1. a bone (as a metatarsus or metacarpus of a sheep) used in games and formerly in divination
  2. a game played with knucklebones or jacks

knuckle down -vi

  1. to apply oneself earnestly

knuck·ledust·er ['nə-kəl-,dəs-tər] -n

  1. knuckle

knuck·le·head [-,hed] -n, adj

  1. dumbbell

knuckle joint -n

  1. a hinge joint in which a projection with an eye on one piece enters a jaw between two corresponding projections with eyes on another piece and is retained by a pin or rivet

knuck·ler ['nə-k(ə-)lər] -n

  1. knuckleball

knuckle under -vi

  1. give in, submit

knur ['nər] -n

  1. a hard excrescence (as on a tree trunk) : gnarl

knurl ['nər(-ə)l] -n, adj

  1. a small protuberance, excrescence, or knob
  2. one of a series of small ridges or beads on a metal surface to aid in gripping