knot

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: an interlacement of the parts of one or more flexible bodies forming a lump or knob (as for fastening or tying together)
b
: the lump or knob so formed
c
: a tight constriction or the sense of constriction
my stomach was all in knots
2
: something hard to solve : problem
a matter full of legal knots
3
: a bond of union
especially : the marriage bond
4
a
: a protuberant lump or swelling in tissue
a knot in a gland
b
: the base of a woody branch enclosed in the stem from which it arises
also : its section in lumber
5
: a cluster of persons or things : group
6
: an ornamental bow of ribbon : cockade
7
a
: a division of the log's line serving to measure a ship's speed
b(1)
: one nautical mile per hour
(2)
: one nautical mile
not used technically
8
: a closed curve in three-dimensional space

Illustration of knot

Illustration of knot
  • 1 Blackwall hitch
  • 2 carrick bend
  • 3 clove hitch
  • 4 cat's-paw
  • 5 figure eight
  • 6 granny knot
  • 7 bowline
  • 8 overhand knot
  • 9 fisherman's bend
  • 10 half hitch
  • 11 square knot
  • 12 slipknot
  • 13 stevedore knot
  • 14 true lover's knot
  • 15 surgeon's knot
  • 16 Turk's head
  • 17 sheet bend
  • 18 timber hitch
  • 19 seizing
  • 20 rolling hitch
  • 21 sheepshank

knot

2 of 3

verb

knotted; knotting

transitive verb

1
: to tie in or with a knot : form knots in
2
: to unite closely or intricately : entangle
3
: tie sense 4b
knotted the score

intransitive verb

: to form knots
knotter noun

knot

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural knots or knot
: either of two sandpipers (Calidris canutus and C. tenuirostris) that breed in the Arctic and winter in temperate or warm parts of the New and Old World

Examples of knot in a Sentence

Verb He knotted his tie so that both ends would be the same length. the extension cords were hopelessly knotted together
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Though the Social Security Administration, also called the SSA, disincentivizes low-income and disabled couples from getting married, there are ways to tie the knot while minimizing losses. Dalia Ramirez Of Nerdwallet, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 The former couple, who tied the knot in May 2019, had a temporary custody agreement in place for their children. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Twin 2,447 hp Caterpillar diesels give a top speed of 18 knots and a transatlantic range of 7,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 At the time of the crash, Gerhardt said, a wind of 19 knots was blowing from the west, with gusts to 38 knots. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 This public debut comes six months after the pair tied the knot in Cape Cod in September 2023, which Evans confirmed a month later by showing up to New York Comic Con with a ring on his finger. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Mar. 2024 Chris Evans and wife Alba Baptista After tying the knot in September 2023, Captain America star Chris Evans and his newlywed wife Alba Baptista arrived at the Vanity Fair Oscars party together. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 That’s right, Vanessa Hudgens is pregnant and expecting her first child with husband Cole Tucker, three months after tying the knot. Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024 After the umpteenth attempt, with his mother smiling nearby, Cancela sighed after securing a passable knot. Billy Witz, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
This style is just two separate sections of your hair being knotted the old-fashioned way. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024 Ponder started the contest with back-to-back 3-pointers but three consecutive field goals from Holliday knotted things up, and both teams were tied at 15 as the first quarter ended. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024 The movies all showcase mothers and sons; many of them seek to untangle relationships knotted and gnarled by neediness, selfishness or cruelty. Mark Harris Keita Morimoto, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 On their third, the Panthers tied the game, getting a deflection by star center Aleksander Barkov on a shot by forward Carter Verhaeghe to knot the score at 2-2 with 3:30 left. David Wilson, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024 Kelce couldn’t come up with a throw to the end zone, and Butker knocked in the short field goal to knot the score again at 19-19 with three seconds left in the quarter. Brett Knight, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 However, City hit a buzzer-beater to knot the score at 24 apiece entering the second half. Aidan Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2024 For now, those conversations are knotted in familiar disputes. Souad Mekhennet, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024 Cut five 3-ft. pieces of paracord, knot one end of each; attach with an adhesive dot to underside of umbrella, spacing them out among the ribbons. Amanda Kingloff, Parents, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English cnotta; akin to Old High German knoto knot

Noun (2)

Middle English knott

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of knot was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near knot

Cite this Entry

“Knot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knot. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

knot

1 of 2 noun
1
: an interlacing (as of string or ribbon) that forms a lump or knob
2
: something hard to solve : problem
3
: a bond of union
especially : the marriage bond
4
a
: a lump or swelling in bodily tissue
b
: the base of a woody branch enclosed in the stem from which it arises
also : a section of a knot in lumber
5
: a cluster of persons or things
6
: one nautical mile per hour

knot

2 of 2 verb
knotted; knotting
1
: to tie in or with a knot
2
: to unite closely

Medical Definition

knot

noun
1
: an interlacing of the parts of one or more flexible bodies (as threads or sutures) in a lump to prevent their spontaneous separation see surgeon's knot
2
: a usually firm or hard lump, swelling, or protuberance (as in a muscle or on the surface of a bone) or process
a knot in a gland
a bone with two or three knots
knot verb
knotted; knotting

More from Merriam-Webster on knot

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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