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knock

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Knock is defined as to rap on a door, or to hit something, or to criticize someone or something.

(verb)

When you use your knuckles to tap on a door so that the people inside the house will hear you and come and open the door, this is an example of when you knock.
When you bang your elbow into a door, this is an example of when you knock your elbow into the door.
When you tip over a glass of water, this is an example of when you knock over the water.
When you say that everyone who watches TV is stupid, this is an example of when you knock TV watchers.

The definition of a knock is a rattling sound that an engine makes when there are ignition problems, or is a sound made by hitting, colliding with or tapping on something.

(noun)

When your ignition is not working properly and your cars engine starts to make a clanging sound that causes you to take it to the mechanic, this is an example of when you have a knock in the engine.
A sound made when someone taps on a door to be let in is an example of a knock.
When you bang your elbow on the door, this is an example of a knock to the elbow.

See knock in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to strike a blow or blows with the fist or some hard object; esp., to rap on a door
to bump; collide; clash
to make a thumping, pounding, or rattling noise: said of an engine, etc.
☆ Informal to find fault; criticize adversely
☆ Gin Rummy to end a deal by exposing one's hand and showing a surplus of not more than ten points in unmatched cards

Origin: ME knokken < OE cnocian, akin to ON knoka, MHG knochen, to press < echoic base > knack

transitive verb

to hit; strike
to make by hitting or striking: to knock a hole in a wall
☆ Informal to find fault with; criticize adversely

noun

the act of knocking
a hit; sharp or resounding blow; rap, as on a door
a thumping or rattling noise in an engine, etc., as because of faulty combustion
☆ Informal an adverse criticism
Informal a misfortune or trouble: the school of hard knocks

See knock in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb knocked, knock·ing, knocks

verb, transitive

To strike with a hard blow.
To affect in a specified way by striking hard: knocked the mugger senseless.
To cause to collide: I knocked my head on a low beam.
To produce by hitting or striking: knocked a hole in the wall.
To instill with or as if with blows: We tried to knock some sense into his head.
Slang To find fault with; criticize: Don't knock the food; it's free.

verb, intransitive

To strike a sharp audible blow or series of blows, as on a door.
To collide with something: knocked into the table.
To make a pounding or clanking noise: The car engine is knocking.

noun

An instance of striking or colliding; a blow.
The sound of a sharp tap on a hard surface; a rap.
A pounding or clanking noise made by an engine, often as a result of faulty fuel combustion. Also called ping¹.
Slang A cutting, often petty criticism.

Phrasal Verbs: knock around/about Informal To be rough or brutal with; maltreat. To wander from place to place: knocking around Europe. To discuss or consider: met to knock around some ideas. knock back Informal To gulp (an alcoholic drink). knock down To bring to the ground with a blow; topple. To disassemble into parts, as for storage or shipping. To declare sold at an auction, as by striking a blow with a gavel. Informal To reduce, as in price: knocked each radio down 20 percent. Slang To receive as wages; earn: knocks down $50 an hour. knock off Informal

a. To take a break or rest from; stop: knocked off work at noon.

b. To cease work: It's after five; let's knock off.

Informal To complete, accomplish, or dispose of hastily or easily; finish: That author knocks off a book a year. Informal To get rid of; eliminate: knocked off 12 pounds in a month. Slang To kill or overcome. Slang To hold up or rob: knocked off a bank. Informal To copy or imitate, especially without permission: knocking off someone else's ideas. knock out To render unconscious. Sports To defeat (a boxing opponent) by a knockout. To render useless or inoperative: The storm knocked out the phones. Informal To exert or exhaust (oneself or another) to the utmost: knocked herself out to be ready on time. Informal To produce in abundance: The workers knocked out 500 parts in one hour. To inactivate or remove (a gene) by genetic engineering. knock together To make or assemble quickly or carelessly. knock up Slang To make pregnant. Chiefly British To wake up or summon, as by knocking at the door. Chiefly British To wear out; exhaust.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English knokken

Origin: , from Old English cnocian

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