knock
knock Lexical Profile
knock Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A sudden, sharp sound caused by striking a hard surface, especially a door, to attract attention.
"She heard a loud knock at the front door just as she was sitting down to dinner."
A hard physical blow, collision, or figuratively a setback or misfortune.
"The team's confidence took a serious knock after losing three consecutive matches."
A sharp, metallic rattling or pinging sound in an internal combustion engine caused by uneven or premature fuel ignition.
"Using higher-octane fuel helped eliminate the persistent engine knock during acceleration."
• verb
To strike a surface noisily, especially a door with one's knuckles, in order to attract attention or gain admittance.
"Please knock before entering the supervisor's office."
To collide with or strike someone or something, causing them to move, fall, or be displaced.
"He accidentally knocked the glass off the edge of the kitchen counter."
To criticize, find fault with, or speak disparagingly about something (informal).
"Don't knock the new scheduling system until you have tried using it for a week."
To make a rattling, thumping, or pinging noise due to a mechanical defect or uneven fuel combustion (of an engine or pipes).
"The old radiator began to knock loudly as the steam pressure built up."
• Rhymes for knock
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old English 'cnocian', a word of imitative origin representing a sharp, percussive sound, related to Old Norse 'knoka'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.