: 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
Noun (1)
from the summit we could see knots of houses up and down the river valley
felt a small knot on the back of his head
their business partnership is strengthened by the knot of personal friendship knots of people were quietly chatting around the meeting hall
the situation involved so many legal knots that we decided to get a lawyer Verb
He knotted his tie so that both ends would be the same length.
the extension cords were hopelessly knotted together
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Noun
The Fines later tied the knot in a Malibu backyard wedding ceremony in October 2019.—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 May 2025 Lauren Sánchez is headed to the altar in style
The Emmy-winning journalist will soon tie the knot with Amazon founder Jezz Bezos
See all of her Paris bachelorette party looks so far
Lauren Sánchez is putting her stamp on bridal fashion ahead of her big day!—Angel Saunders, People.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
What made the top particularly interesting is that it was adorned with engagement rings, which were knotted on a silver chain to give the appearance of chainmail.—Michael Nied, People.com, 13 May 2025 But the Flames, who earned their first invite to the NCAA Tournament by capturing their first Atlantic Sun regular-season and tournament crowns, reeled off four unanswered goals in a span of 3:08 to knot the score at 6 with 3:35 remaining.—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for knot
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
: 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
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