knot
Looking for the meaning of knot? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.
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A looping of a piece of string or of any other long, flexible material that cannot be untangled without passing one or both ends of the material through its loops.
“Climbers must make sure that all knots are both secure and of types that will not weaken the rope.”
(of hair, etc) A tangled clump.
“The nurse was brushing knots from the protesting child's hair.”
A maze-like pattern.
A non-self-intersecting closed curve in (e.g., three-dimensional) space that is an abstraction of a knot (in sense 1 above).
“A knot can be defined as a non-self-intersecting broken line whose endpoints coincide: when such a knot is constrained to lie in a plane, then it is simply a polygon.”
A difficult situation.
“I got into a knot when I inadvertently insulted a policeman.”
The whorl left in lumber by the base of a branch growing out of the tree's trunk.
“When preparing to tell stories at a campfire, I like to set aside a pile of pine logs with lots of knots, since they burn brighter and make dramatic pops and cracks.”
Local swelling in a tissue area, especially skin, often due to injury.
“Jeremy had a knot on his head where he had bumped it on the bedframe.”
A protuberant joint in a plant.
Any knob, lump, swelling, or protuberance.
The swelling of the bulbus glandis in members of the dog family, Canidae
The point on which the action of a story depends; the gist of a matter.
“the knot of the tale”
A node.
A kind of epaulet; a shoulder knot.
A group of people or things.
A bond of union; a connection; a tie.
A unit of speed, equal to one nautical mile per hour. (From the practice of counting the number of knots in the log-line (as it is paid out) in a standard time. Traditionally spaced at one every 1/120 of a mile.)
“Cedric claimed his old yacht could make 12 knots.”
A nautical mile
The bulbus glandis
In omegaverse fiction, a bulbus glandis-like structure on the penis of a male alpha, which ties him to an omega during intercourse.
To form into a knot; to tie with a knot or knots.
“We knotted the ends of the rope to keep it from unravelling.”
To form wrinkles in the forehead, as a sign of concentration, concern, surprise, etc.
“She knotted her brow in concentration while attempting to unravel the tangled strands.”
To unite closely; to knit together.
To entangle or perplex; to puzzle.
To form knots.
To knit knots for a fringe.
Understanding "knot"
The word **"knot"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **/nɒt/**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"knot"** in our dictionary below.
The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "knot" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "knot" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.
For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "knot" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as /nɒt/. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "knot" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.
When deciding how to use "knot" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "knot" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.
Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "knot". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (/nɒt/), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "knot" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.
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Refer to the usage examples above to see how "knot" can be used in academic and casual conversations.