knee

1 of 2

noun

ˈnē 

often attributive

1

a

: a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella

also : the part of the leg that includes this joint

b(1)

: the joint in the hind leg of a four-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee

(2)

: the carpal joint of the foreleg of a four-footed vertebrate

c

: the tarsal joint of a bird

d

: the joint between the femur and tibia of an insect

2

: something resembling the human knee: such as

a

: a piece of timber naturally or artificially bent for use in supporting structures coming together at an angle (such as the deck beams of a ship)

b

: a rounded or conical process rising from the roots of various swamp-growing trees

cypress knee

3

: the part of a garment covering the knee

4

: a blow with the bent knee

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective

knee

2 of 2

verb

kneed; kneeing

transitive verb

1

: to strike with the knee

2

archaic : to bend the knee to

Phrases

to one's knees

: into a state of submission or defeat

Examples of knee in a Sentence

Noun

I fell down and hurt my knee.

She suffered a serious knee injury.

His knees trembled with fear.

He got down on one knee and proposed to her.

His little granddaughter sat on his knee.

Her jeans had holes at the knees.

Verb

His attacker kneed him in the stomach.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Blake Corum, 2022: 1,463 yards Simply put, Corum's knee injury sabotaged what could have ended up as the best rushing season in U-M history. —Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2023

Floyd died after then-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed a knee on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes on the street outside a convenience store where Floyd tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. —Samantha Hendrickson, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2023

Michigan running back Blake Corum, a former St. Frances star, returns after injuring his left knee near the end of last season. —C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2023

How to Do It: Start on your knees, with your hands on the roller. —Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023

Venus Williams Loses at Wimbledon While Playing Through Leg Injury After Slipping on Grass Court The seven-time Grand Slam champion lost in the first round of Wimbledon last month after suffering a leg injury and then missed the WTA’s last tournament in Cleveland due to a knee injury. —Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2023

Elliott’s body began to break down with knee and calf injuries as his career progressed with the Cowboys. —Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 30 Aug. 2023

Enter Email Sign Up After the final horn, Silva dropped down to her knees in the middle of the canvas, took out her mouth guard, and put her head in her hands as the emotion of the fight kicked in. —Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023

And the descent back to the city would present a formidable challenge to our thighs, our knees, and our egos. —David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cnēow; akin to Old High German kneo knee, Latin genu, Greek gony

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing knee

• knee jerk
• knee breeches
• knee-deep
• knee-length
• knee-high
• knee-high to a grasshopper
• lock one's knee
• learn (something) at one's mother's knee
• knock-knee
• on bended knee
• water on the knee
• jumper's knee
• housemaid's knee
• knee-slapper
• knee sock

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• knee jerk
• knee breeches
• knee-deep
• knee-length
• knee-high
• knee-high to a grasshopper
• lock one's knee
• learn (something) at one's mother's knee
• knock-knee
• on bended knee
• water on the knee
• jumper's knee
• housemaid's knee
• knee-slapper
• knee sock

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Kids Definition

knee

1 of 2 noun

ˈnē 

1

: the joint or region in the middle part of the human leg in which the femur, tibia, and kneecap come together

also : a corresponding part of a four-footed mammal

2

: something resembling the knee

especially : a cone-shaped upward growth from the roots of a few swamp-growing trees (as a cypress of the southern U.S.) that extends above the surrounding water

3

: the part of a garment covering the knee

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective

knee

2 of 2 verb

kneed; kneeing

: to strike with the knee

Medical Definition

knee

noun

ˈnē 

1

a

: a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella

called also knee joint

b

: the part of the leg that includes this joint

2

a

: the joint in the hind leg of a 4-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee

b

: the carpal joint of the foreleg of a 4-footed vertebrate

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective