an interlacing, twining, looping, etc., of a cord, rope, or the like, drawn tight into a knob or lump, for fastening, binding, or connecting two cords together or a cord to something else.
a piece of ribbon or similar material tied or folded upon itself and used or worn as an ornament.
a group or cluster of persons or things: a knot of spectators.
the hard, cross-grained mass of wood at the place where a branch joins the trunk of a tree.
a part of this mass showing in a piece of lumber, wood panel, etc.
Anatomy, Zoology. a protuberance or swelling on or in a part or process, as in a muscle.
a protuberance in the tissue of a plant; an excrescence on a stem, branch, or root; a node or joint in a stem, especially when of swollen form.
any of various fungal diseases of trees characterized by the formation of an excrescence, knob, or gnarl.
an involved, intricate, or difficult matter; complicated problem.
Nautical.
a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile or about 1.15 statute miles per hour.
a unit of 47 feet 3 inches (13.79 meters) on a log line, marked off by knots.
a nautical mile.
a bond or tie: the knot of matrimony.
Also called joint, node. Mathematics. in interpolation, one of the points at which the values of a function are assigned.
verb (used with object),knot·ted,knot·ting.
to tie in a knot; form a knot in.
to secure or fasten by a knot.
to form protuberances, bosses, or knobs in; make knotty.
verb (used without object),knot·ted,knot·ting.
to become tied or tangled in a knot.
to form knots or joints.
Idioms for knot
tie the knot, Informal. to marry: They will tie the knot in November.
Origin of knot
1
before 1000; (noun) Middle English knot(te), Old English cnotta; cognate with Dutch knot,German knoten to knit; (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun
Cotton and leather boot laces are simply no match for paracord’s breaking strength, high knot strength, or durability, then or now.
This essential survival tool can save your life 10 different ways|By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor Life|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
If such a fluid existed, then no matter what changes a vortex or group of linked vortices in the fluid went through, the number of links and knots would add up to the same number.
An Unexpected Twist Lights Up the Secrets of Turbulence|David H. Freedman|September 3, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Vortex helicity has long been defined as the total number of links and knots in a vortex or in a connected group of vortices.
An Unexpected Twist Lights Up the Secrets of Turbulence|David H. Freedman|September 3, 2020|Quanta Magazine
In the season 7 finale, George and Susan were finally tying the knot and George’s wallet was taking a beating.
Science of ‘Seinfeld’|LGBTQ-Editor|June 15, 2020|No Straight News
The rules predict only the relative strength of each knot — that is, whether one knot is stronger than another.
Color-changing fibers help unravel a knotty problem|Emily Conover|January 31, 2020|Science News For Students
There is something irrevocable-feeling about couples tying the knot on the steps of the county courthouse.
Gay Marriage Chaos Begins|Jay Michaelson|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every day before leaving home, Sara stands before the mirror and tightens the knot on her scarf.
Acid Attacks on Women Spread Terror in Iran|IranWire|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most famous people in the world tied the knot secretly over the weekend.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Got Married and We’re Worried About Jennifer Aniston|Kevin Fallon, Tim Teeman|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The moment he was finally able to loop a knot by himself was a milestone, his first step to becoming a man.
Miami’s Chris Bosh Goes High Fashion|Justin Jones|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Star-studded guests arrived in fancy cars, and music and cheers rose above the castle walls as Kimye tied the knot.
Eavesdropping On Kim and Kanye’s Florentine “Wedding of the Century”|Barbie Latza Nadeau|May 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Joe and Abe looked to it, testing every knot, however, and their seamanship told.
Tom Fairfield at Sea|Allen Chapman
Yet ways and means had to be provided, and the difficulty grew rather than diminished, until it was decided to cut the knot.
Sir Walter Ralegh|William Stebbing
Thereby had she been enabled to say, 'He will come'; and saying, 'He has come,' her touch rested on the first knot in the string.
The Short Works of George Meredith|George Meredith
His eyes are too busy examining the shingles for knot holes to be cut out by the second saw whirling in front of him.
The Everett massacre|Walker C. Smith
From another corner he tried to extricate a half-sovereign, but it would not come, the knot was too tight.
Thereby Hangs a Tale|George Manville Fenn
British Dictionary definitions for knot (1 of 2)
knot1
/ (nɒt) /
noun
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
a prescribed method of tying a particular knot
a tangle, as in hair or string
a decorative bow or fastening, as of ribbon or braid
a small cluster or huddled group
a tie or bondthe marriage knot
a difficult problem
a protuberance or lump of plant tissues, such as that occurring on the trunks of certain trees
a hard mass of wood at the point where a branch joins the trunk of a tree
a cross section of this, usually roundish and cross-grained, visible in a piece of timber
a sensation of constriction, caused by tension or nervousnesshis stomach was tying itself in knots
pathola lump of vessels or fibres formed in a part, as in a muscle
anatomya protuberance on an organ or part
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
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
at a rate of knotsvery fast
tie someone in knotsto completely perplex or confuse someone
tie the knotinformalto get married
verbknots, knottingorknotted
(tr)to tie or fasten in a knot
to form or cause to form into a knot
(tr)to ravel or entangle or become ravelled or entangled
(tr)to make (an article or a design) by tying thread in an interlaced pattern of ornamental knots, as in macramé