knob

noun

ˈnäb 

1

a

: a small rounded ornament or handle

b

: a rounded protuberance : lump

2

: a rounded usually isolated hill or mountain

knobbed

ˈnäbd 

adjective

knobby

ˈnä-bē 

adjective

Synonyms of knob

• chunk
• hunk
• clump
• wad
• glob
• lump

Examples of knob in a Sentence

a carved walking stick with a silver knob

toss a knob of butter into the frying pan

Recent Examples on the Web

Every one now comes with a six-speed manual — PDK buyers, go buy a Carrera — complete with a warm walnut wood knob for your palm and a little shift gate stencil on the rear window. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026

Like sunlit waves, the luminous surface of the cookware seems to ripple with depth and dimension, thanks to a color gradient and a classic gold knob. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026

And then waking up to all these pictures, and feeling embarrassed, and looking like a real knob? —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026

Many companies have gone further, integrating essential vehicle controls into those systems while reducing physical buttons and knobs. —Chris Teague, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English knobbe; akin to Middle Low German knubbe knob

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing knob

• stop knob

Rhymes for knob

• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• lob
• mob
• rob

Kids Definition

knob

noun

ˈnäb 

1

a

: a rounded lump

b

: a small rounded handle

2

: a rounded hill

knobbed

ˈnäbd 

adjective

knobby

ˈnäb-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

knob

noun

ˈnäb 

: a rounded protuberance or lump

knobby

ˈnäb-ē 

adjective