knot
knot Lexical Profile
knot Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A fastening made by tying a piece of string, rope, or cloth.
"He tied a double knot in his shoelaces so they wouldn't come undone during the race."
A hard, irregular lump, such as the cross-grained mass of wood where a branch joins a tree trunk, or a localized point of tension in a muscle.
"The massage therapist focused on working out the painful knot in my shoulder."
A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, used primarily in maritime and aeronautical navigation.
"The cruise ship maintained a steady speed of twenty knots despite the rough seas."
• verb
To tie a piece of string, rope, or cloth in a specific way to secure or fasten it.
"She knotted the scarf tightly around her neck to keep out the bitter wind."
To make or become tangled and difficult to separate.
"The heavy winds knotted the halyard into an unmanageable mess."
To cause a muscle or one's stomach to become tight and uncomfortable, often due to tension, fear, or anxiety.
"His stomach knotted with dread as he walked into the principal's office."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a unit of speed, 'knot' means one nautical mile per hour; thus, the phrase 'knots per hour' is tautological and generally considered incorrect in maritime contexts.
• Rhymes for knot
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'knotte', inherited from Old English 'cnotta', of Germanic origin. Cognate with Dutch 'knot' and German 'Knoten'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.