Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense knots, present participle knotting, past tense, past participle knotted
1. countable noun
If you tie a knot in a piece of string, rope, cloth, or other material, you pass one end or part of it through a loop and pull it tight.
One lace had broken and been tied in a knot.
Synonyms: connection, tie, bond, joint More Synonyms of knot
2. verb
If you knot a piece of string, rope, cloth, or other material, you pass one end or part of itthrough a loop and pull it tight.
He knotted the laces securely together. [VERB noun with together]
He knotted the bandanna around his neck. [VERB noun]
...a knotted rope. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: tie, secure, bind, weave More Synonyms of knot
3. countable noun [usually NOUNof noun]
A knotof people is a group of people who are standing very close together.
[written]
A little knot of men stood clapping.
Synonyms: group, company, set, band More Synonyms of knot
4. countable noun
If you feel a knot in your stomach, you get an uncomfortable tight feeling in your stomach, usually because you are afraid or excited.
There was a knot of tension in his stomach. [+ of]
5. verb
If your stomach knots or if something knots it, it feels tight because you are afraid or excited.
I felt my stomach knot with apprehension. [VERB]
The old dread knotted her stomach. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: tighten, become tense, tauten, stretch More Synonyms of knot
6. verb
If part of your face or your muscles knot, they become tense, usually because you are worried or angry.
His forehead knotted in a frown. [VERB]
...his knotted muscles. [VERB-ed]
7. countable noun
A knot in a piece of wood is a small hard area where a branch grew.
8. countable noun
A knot is a unit of speed. The speed of ships, aircraft, and winds is measured in knots.
They travel at speeds of up to 30 knots.
...thirteen knot winds.
9.
See to tie yourself in knots
10.
See to tie the knot
More Synonyms of knot
knot in British English1
(nɒt)
noun
1.
any of various fastenings formed by looping and tying a piece of rope, cord, etc, in upon itself, to another piece of rope, or to another object
2.
a prescribed method of tying a particular knot
3.
a tangle, as in hair or string
4.
a decorative bow or fastening, as of ribbon or braid
5.
a small cluster or huddled group
6.
a tie or bond
the marriage knot
7.
a difficult problem
8.
a protuberance or lump of plant tissues, such as that occurring on the trunks of certain trees
9.
a.
a hard mass of wood at the point where a branch joins the trunk of a tree
b.
a cross section of this, usually roundish and cross-grained, visible in a piece of timber
10.
a sensation of constriction, caused by tension or nervousness
his stomach was tying itself in knots
11.
a. pathology
a lump of vessels or fibres formed in a part, as in a muscle
b. anatomy
a protuberance on an organ or part
12.
a unit of speed used by nautical vessels and aircraft, being one nautical mile (about 1.15 statute miles or 1.85 km) per hour
13.
one of a number of equally spaced knots on a log line used to indicate the speed of a ship in nautical miles per hour
14. at a rate of knots
15. tie someone in knots
16. tie the knot
verbWord forms: knots, knotting or knotted
17. (transitive)
to tie or fasten in a knot
18.
to form or cause to form into a knot
19.
to ravel or entangle or become ravelled or entangled
20. (transitive)
to make (an article or a design) by tying thread in an interlaced pattern of ornamental knots, as in macramé
Derived forms
knotter (ˈknotter)
noun
knotless (ˈknotless)
adjective
knotlike (ˈknotˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English cnotta; related to Old High German knoto, Old Norse knūtr
knot in British English2
(nɒt)
noun
a small northern sandpiper, Calidris canutus, with a short bill and grey plumage
Word origin
C15: of unknown origin
knot in American English1
(nɑt)
noun
1.
a lump or knob in a thread, cord, etc., formed by passing one free end through a loop and drawing it tight, or by a tangle drawn tight
2.
a fastening made by intertwining or tying together pieces of string, cord, rope, etc.
3.
an ornamental bow of ribbon or twist of braid; cockade; epaulet
4.
a small group or cluster
5.
something that ties or fastens closely or intricately; bond of union; esp., the bond of marriage
6.
a problem; difficulty; entanglement
7.
a knotlike part; node or lump [a knot in a tense muscle]
; specif.,
a.
a hard lump on a tree where a branch grows out
b.
a cross section of such a lump, appearing as cross-grained in a board or log
c.
a joint on a plant stem where two leaves grow out
d.
any of several fungal diseases of trees, in which abnormal protuberances appear
8. Nautical
a. Obsolete
any of the knots tied at regular intervals in a line used in measuring a ship's speed
b.
a unit of speed of one nautical mile (6,076.12 feet or 1,852 meters) an hour
abbrev. kn or kt
to average a speed of 10 knots
c. Loosely
nautical mile
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈknotted or ˈknotting
9.
to tie, fasten, or intertwine in or with a knot or knots; make a knot or knots in
10.
to tie or unite closely or intricately; entangle
11.
to make (fringe) by tying knots
verb intransitive
12.
to form a knot or knots; become entangled
13.
to make knots for fringe
Idioms:
tie the knot
Word origin
ME knotte < OE cnotta, akin to Du knot, Swed knut, Ger knoten < IE *gn-eu-t < base *gen-, to press together > knob, knead
knot in American English2
(nɑt)
noun
any of various sandpipers (genus Calidris); esp., a large, migratory species (C. canutus) that breeds in arctic regions
Word origin
rare ME knotte < ?
More idioms containing
knot
tie the knot
cut the Gordian knot
Examples of 'knot' in a sentence
knot
Secure with a knot at either end.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The knot garden seems rather fitting for this old romantic.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She was still in her wedding dress after tying the knot there hours earlier.
The Sun (2012)
There was a little knot of people at the top of the steps.
Paige, Frances The Glasgow Girls (1994)
They tied the knot at a small ceremony for close friends and family.
The Sun (2016)
Sometimes the knot of hair is as big as their head.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Pull the thread so that a knot forms on the edge of the fabric.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
You watch with a knot in your stomach.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But which of our housewives will tie the knot?
The Sun (2007)
We go through our lives knowing only how to tie one or two knots.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Tanks were protected with white cloths knotted on strings at intervals.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
They stood around in knots rather than in a solid phalanx.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It would be impossible to prove that an extra two or three knots was not caused by local tidal conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She would always want to help - pulling ropes and tying knots.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Guy is one of the last of the princes' circle of friends to tie the knot.
The Sun (2014)
The knots went tight: he could do himself no further damage.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
A rough rope was knotted about her slender neck.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
We could give up and bundle it away below, but it gives us a vital couple of extra knots of speed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You'll note that my advice doesn't suggest tying your daffodils into silly little knots.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I can no longer straighten the little finger on my right hand and can feel a knot of tissue in my palm below the finger.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Word lists with
knot
bird
In other languages
knot
British English: knot /nɒt/ NOUN
If you tie a knot in a piece of string, rope, cloth, or other material, you pass one end or part of it through a loop and pull it tight.
One lace had broken and been tied in a knot.
American English: knot
Arabic: عُقْدَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: nó
Chinese: 结
Croatian: čvor
Czech: uzel
Danish: knude
Dutch: knoop lus
European Spanish: nudo
Finnish: solmu
French: nœud
German: Knoten
Greek: κόμπος
Italian: nodo
Japanese: 結び目
Korean: 매듭
Norwegian: knute
Polish: węzeł
European Portuguese: nó
Romanian: nod
Russian: узел
Latin American Spanish: nudo
Swedish: knut
Thai: เงื่อน
Turkish: düğüm
Ukrainian: вузол
Vietnamese: nút thắt
All related terms of 'knot'
flat knot
a knot consisting of two overhand knots turned opposite ways
loop knot
a knot that leaves a loop extending from it
love knot
a stylized bow, usually of ribbon , symbolizing the bond between two lovers
reef knot
a knot consisting of two overhand knots turned opposite ways
wall knot
a knot forming a knob at the end of a rope, made by unwinding the strands and weaving them together
black knot
a fungal disease of plums and cherries caused by Dibotryon morbosum , characterized by rough black knotlike swellings on the twigs and branches
double knot
any of various knots that are reinforced with a second tying
French knot
an ornamental stitch made by looping the thread three or four times around the needle before putting it into the fabric
granny knot
a reef knot with the ends crossed the wrong way, making it liable to slip or jam
knot garden
(esp formerly) a formal garden of intricate design
prusik knot
a sliding knot that locks under pressure and can be used to form a loop ( prusik loop ) in which a climber can place his or her foot in order to stand or ascend a rope
Psyche knot
a woman's coiffure in which the hair is coiled in a knot at the back of the head
Sehna knot
a hand-tied knot , used in rug weaving, in which the ends of yarn looped around a warp thread appear at each of the interstices between adjacent threads and produce a compact and relatively even pile effect
slide knot
a kind of slipknot
square knot
a double knot in which the free ends run parallel to the standing parts
sword knot
a loop on the hilt of a sword by which it was attached to the wrist , now purely decorative
thumb knot
a knot formed by making a loop in a piece of cord and drawing one end through it
Ghiordes knot
a hand-tied knot , used in rug weaving, in which the parallel ends of looped yarn alternate with two threads of warp , producing an uneven pile effect
Gordian knot
(in Greek legend ) a complicated knot , tied by King Gordius of Phrygia , that Alexander the Great cut with a sword
lover's knot
a stylized bow, usually of ribbon , symbolizing the bond between two lovers
overhand knot
a knot formed by making a loop in a piece of cord and drawing one end through it
running knot
→ slipknot
shoulder knot
a knot of ribbon or lace formerly worn as an ornament on the shoulder
truelove knot
a complicated bowknot that is hard to untie , symbolizing ties of love
Windsor knot
a wide triangular knot , produced by making extra turns in tying a tie
builder's knot
→ clove hitch
butterfly knot
a particularly resistant knot which resembles a butterfly and can take loads on both ends, as well as on the loop
surgeon's knot
a knot used by surgeons in tying ligatures , etc
tie the knot
to get married
fisherman's knot
a knot for joining two ropes of equal thickness consisting of an overhand knot or double overhand knot by each rope round the other, so that the two knots jam when pulled tight
stevedore's knot
a knot forming a lump in a line, used by stevedores to secure ropes passing through holes
topknot
If someone has their hair in a topknot , the hair is arranged in a small neat pile on top of their head.
figure-eight knot
a kind of knot
to tie the knot
If you say that two people tie the knot , you mean that they get married .
cut the Gordian knot
to succeed in solving a very complicated and difficult situation or problem
bowline
a line for controlling the weather leech of a square sail when a vessel is close-hauled
weaver's hitch
→ sheet bend
Englishman's tie
a type of knot for tying together heavy ropes
prusik
a sliding knot that locks under pressure and can be used to form a loop ( prusik loop ) in which a climber can place his or her foot in order to stand or ascend a rope
Chinese translation of 'knot'
knot
(nɔt)
n(c)
(= in rope, string) 结(結) (jié) (个(個), gè)
(in hair) 髻 (jì) (个(個), gè)
(= in wood) 节(節)瘤 (jiéliú) (个(個), gè)
(Naut) 绳(繩)节(節) (jié) (个(個), gè)
vt
将(將) ... 打个(個)结(結) (jiāng ... dǎ gè jié)
to tie a knot打个(個)结(結) (dǎ gè jié)
to tie the knot (= get married) 结(結)婚 (jiéhūn)
to have a knot in one's stomach感到心里(裡)一阵(陣)紧(緊)揪 (gǎndào xīnli yī zhèn jǐnjiū)
1 (noun)
Definition
a decorative bow, such as of ribbon
One lace had broken and been tied in a knot.
Synonyms
connection
tie
little empire-line coats with ribbon ties
bond
the bond that linked them
joint
Cut the stem just below a leaf joint.
bow
Add a length of ribbon tied in a bow.
loop
braid
splice
rosette
ligature
2 (noun)
Definition
a small cluster or huddled group
A little knot of men stood clapping.
Synonyms
group
a small group of football supporters
company
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
set
the popular watering hole for the literary set
band
bands of government soldiers
crowd
All the old crowd from my university days were there.
pack
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
squad
The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
circle
a small circle of friends
crew (informal)
a motley crew of college friends
gang
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
mob
Can you stop your mob tramping all over the place?
clique
The country is run by a small clique of wealthy families.
assemblage
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
3 (noun)
Definition
a small cluster or huddled group
Synonyms
cluster
A cluster of men blocked the doorway.
collection
He has gathered a large collection of prints and paintings over the years.
mass
On the desk is a mass of books and papers.
pile
a pile of books
bunch
She had fallen asleep clutching a fat bunch of grapes.
heap
a heap of bricks
clump
There was a clump of trees bordering the side of the road.
tuft
He had a small tuft of hair on his chin.
aggregation
Society is more than just an aggregation of individuals.
1 (verb)
Definition
to tie or fasten in a knot
He knotted the bandanna around his neck.
Synonyms
tie
He tied the ends of the plastic bag together.
secure
The frames are secured by horizontal rails to the back wall.
bind
Bind the ends of the card together with thread.
weave
She then weaves the fibres together to make the traditional Awatum basket.
loop
He looped the rope over the wood.
knit
Sport knits the whole family close together.
tether
He dismounted, tethering his horse to a tree.
entangle
The door handle had entangled itself with the strap of her bag.
2 (verb)
I felt my stomach knot with apprehension.
Synonyms
tighten
He flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope.
become tense
tauten
stretch
Make sure you don't stretch the pastry as you ease it into the corners.
idiom
See tie the knot
subject word lists
See Knots
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aggregation
Society is more than just an aggregation of individuals.
Synonyms
collection,
body,
mass,
combination,
pile,
mixture,
bulk,
lump,
heap,
accumulation,
assemblage,
agglomeration
in the sense of assemblage
Definition
a collection or group of things
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
Synonyms
group,
company,
meeting,
body,
crowd,
collection,
mass,
gathering,
rally,
assembly,
flock,
congregation,
accumulation,
multitude,
throng,
hui (New Zealand),
conclave,
aggregation,
convocation (formal),
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of band
Definition
having legs curved outwards at the knees
bands of government soldiers
Synonyms
gang,
company,
group,
set,
party,
team,
lot,
club,
body,
association,
crowd,
troop,
pack,
camp,
squad,
crew (informal),
assembly,
mob,
horde,
troupe,
posse (informal),
clique,
coterie,
bevy
Synonyms of 'knot'
knot
Explore 'knot' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bind
Definition
to make secure, such as with a rope
Bind the ends of the card together with thread.
Synonyms
tie,
unite,
join,
stick,
secure,
attach,
wrap,
rope,
knot,
strap,
lash,
glue,
tie up,
hitch,
paste,
fasten,
truss,
make fast
in the sense of bond
Definition
something that brings or holds people together
the bond that linked them
Synonyms
tie,
union,
coupling,
link,
association,
relation,
connection,
alliance,
attachment,
affinity,
affiliation
in the sense of bow
Definition
a decorative knot usually having two loops and two loose ends
Add a length of ribbon tied in a bow.
Synonyms
knot,
tie,
lace,
loop,
ribbon,
braid,
rosette,
ligature
in the sense of bunch
Definition
a number of things growing, fastened, or grouped together
She had fallen asleep clutching a fat bunch of grapes.
Synonyms
cluster,
clump,
bundle,
rick,
parcel,
tuft
in the sense of circle
Definition
a group of people sharing an interest, activity, or upbringing
a small circle of friends
Synonyms
group,
company,
set,
school,
club,
order,
class,
society,
crowd,
assembly,
fellowship,
fraternity,
clique,
coterie
in the sense of clique
Definition
a small exclusive group of friends or associates
The country is run by a small clique of wealthy families.
Synonyms
group,
set,
crowd,
pack,
circle,
crew (informal),
gang,
faction,
mob,
clan,
posse (informal),
coterie,
schism,
cabal
in the sense of clump
Definition
a small group of things or people together
There was a clump of trees bordering the side of the road.
Synonyms
cluster,
group,
mass,
bunch,
bundle,
shock
in the sense of collection
Definition
things collected or accumulated
He has gathered a large collection of prints and paintings over the years.
Synonyms
accumulation,
set,
store,
mass,
pile,
heap,
stockpile,
hoard,
aggregate,
congeries
in the sense of company
Definition
a number of people gathered together
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
Synonyms
group,
troupe,
set,
community,
league,
band,
crowd,
camp,
collection,
gathering,
circle,
crew (informal),
assembly,
convention,
ensemble,
throng,
coterie,
bevy,
assemblage,
party,
body
in the sense of crew
Definition
any group of people
a motley crew of college friends
Synonyms
crowd,
set,
lot,
bunch (informal),
band,
troop,
pack,
camp,
gang,
mob,
herd,
swarm,
company,
horde,
posse (informal),
assemblage
Additional synonyms
in the sense of crowd
Definition
a particular group of people
All the old crowd from my university days were there.
Synonyms
group,
set,
lot,
circle,
gang,
bunch (informal),
clique
in the sense of entangle
Definition
to catch very firmly in something, such as a net or wire
The door handle had entangled itself with the strap of her bag.
Synonyms
tangle,
catch,
trap,
twist,
knot,
mat,
mix up,
snag,
snarl,
snare,
jumble,
ravel,
trammel,
enmesh
in the sense of gang
Definition
a group of people who go around together, often to commit crime
He was attacked by a gang of strangers.
Synonyms
group,
crowd,
pack,
company,
party,
lot,
band,
crew (informal),
bunch,
mob,
horde
in the sense of heap
Definition
a pile of things lying one on top of another
a heap of bricks
Synonyms
pile,
lot,
collection,
store,
mountain,
mass,
stack,
rick,
mound,
accumulation,
stockpile,
hoard,
aggregation
in the sense of joint
Definition
a junction of two or more parts or objects
Cut the stem just below a leaf joint.
Synonyms
junction,
union,
link,
connection,
knot,
brace,
bracket,
seam,
hinge,
weld,
linkage,
intersection,
node,
articulation,
nexus
in the sense of knit
Definition
to join together closely
Sport knits the whole family close together.
Synonyms
join,
unite,
link,
tie,
bond,
ally,
combine,
secure,
bind,
connect,
merge,
weave,
fasten,
meld
in the sense of ligature
Definition
a link, bond, or tie
Synonyms
link,
band,
tie,
bond,
binding,
connection,
ligament,
bandage
in the sense of loop
Definition
to make into a loop
He looped the rope over the wood.
Synonyms
twist,
turn,
join,
roll,
circle,
connect,
bend,
fold,
knot,
curl,
spiral,
coil,
braid,
encircle,
wind round,
curve round
in the sense of mass
Definition
a collection of the component parts of something
On the desk is a mass of books and papers.
Synonyms
lot,
collection,
load (informal),
combination,
pile,
quantity,
bunch,
stack,
heap,
rick,
batch,
accumulation,
stockpile,
assemblage,
aggregation,
conglomeration
in the sense of mob
Definition
any group of people
Can you stop your mob tramping all over the place?
Synonyms
gang,
company,
group,
set,
lot,
troop,
crew (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pack
Definition
any collection of people or things
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
Synonyms
group,
crowd,
collection,
company,
set,
lot,
band,
troop,
crew (informal),
drove,
gang,
deck,
bunch (informal),
mob,
flock,
herd,
assemblage
in the sense of pile
Definition
a collection of objects laid on top of one another
a pile of books
Synonyms
heap,
collection,
mountain,
mass,
stack,
rick,
mound,
accumulation,
stockpile,
hoard,
assortment,
assemblage
in the sense of secure
Definition
to attach; make fast or firm
The frames are secured by horizontal rails to the back wall.
Synonyms
attach,
stick,
fix,
bind,
pin,
lash,
glue,
fasten,
rivet
in the sense of set
Definition
a group of people who associate with each other or have similar interests
the popular watering hole for the literary set
Synonyms
group,
company,
crowd,
circle,
class,
band,
crew (informal),
gang,
outfit (informal),
faction,
sect,
posse (informal),
clique,
coterie,
schism
in the sense of squad
Definition
any small group of people working together
The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
Synonyms
team,
group,
band,
company,
force,
troop,
crew,
gang,
dream team
in the sense of stretch
Definition
to draw (something) tight
Make sure you don't stretch the pastry as you ease it into the corners.
Synonyms
pull,
distend,
pull out of shape,
strain,
swell,
tighten,
rack,
inflate,
lengthen,
draw out,
elongate
in the sense of tether
Definition
to tie with a tether
He dismounted, tethering his horse to a tree.
Synonyms
tie,
secure,
bind,
chain,
rope,
restrain,
fasten,
shackle,
leash,
fetter,
manacle
in the sense of tuft
Definition
a bunch of feathers, grass, hair, threads, etc., held together at the base
He had a small tuft of hair on his chin.
Synonyms
clump,
bunch,
shock,
collection,
knot,
cluster,
tussock,
topknot
in the sense of weave
Definition
to form (a fabric) by interlacing yarn on a loom
She then weaves the fibres together to make the traditional Awatum basket.