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knot

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The definition of a knot is the looping and tying of a piece of string or rope, or the place where a tree limb joins the trunk.

(noun)

An example of a knot is a tied shoelace.
An example of a knot is the cross-grained circular part on some boards.

To knot is defined as to securely tie a rope or ribbon.

(verb)

An example of to knot is to tie ribbon around a gift and secure the ribbon by making a loop in the ribbon and pulling a loose end of the ribbon through the loop.

See knot in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a lump or knob in a thread, cord, etc., formed by passing one free end through a loop and drawing it tight, or by a tangle drawn tight
a fastening made by intertwining or tying together pieces of string, cord, rope, etc.
an ornamental bow of ribbon or twist of braid; cockade; epaulet
a small group or cluster
something that ties or fastens closely or intricately; bond of union; esp., the bond of marriage
a problem; difficulty; entanglement
a knotlike part; node or lump [a knot in a tense muscle]; specif.,
1. a hard lump on a tree where a branch grows out
2. a cross section of such a lump, appearing as cross-grained in a board or log
3. a joint on a plant stem where two leaves grow out
4. any of several fungal diseases of trees, in which abnormal protuberances appear
Naut.
1. Historical any of the knots tied at regular intervals in a line used in measuring a ship's speed
2. a unit of speed of one nautical mile (6,076.12 feet or 1,852 meters) an hour: abbrev. kn or kt: to average a speed of 10 knots
3. loosely nautical mile

Origin: ME knotte < OE cnotta, akin to Du knot, Swed knut, Ger knoten < IE *gn-eu-t < base *gen-, to press together > knob, knead

transitive verb knotted, knotting

to tie, fasten, or intertwine in or with a knot or knots; make a knot or knots in
to tie or unite closely or intricately; entangle
to make (fringe) by tying knots

intransitive verb

to form a knot or knots; become entangled
to make knots for fringe

noun

any of various sandpipers (genus Calidris); esp., a large, migratory species (C. canutus) that breeds in arctic regions

Origin: rare ME knotte < ?

See knot in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A compact intersection of interlaced material, such as cord, ribbon, or rope.
b. A fastening made by tying together lengths of material, such as rope, in a prescribed way.
A decorative bow of ribbon, fabric, or braid.
A unifying bond, especially a marriage bond.
A tight cluster of persons or things: a knot of onlookers.
A feeling of tightness: a knot of fear in my stomach.
A complex problem.
a. A hard place or lump, especially on a tree, at a point from which a stem or branch grows.
b. The round, often darker cross section of such a lump as it appears on a piece of cut lumber. Also called node.
A protuberant growth or swelling in a tissue: a knot in a gland.
a. Nautical A division on a log line used to measure the speed of a ship.
b. Abbr. kn. or kt. A unit of speed, one nautical mile per hour, approximately 1.85 kilometers (1.15 statute miles) per hour.
c. A distance of one nautical mile.

verb knot·ted, knot·ting, knots

verb, transitive

To tie in or fasten with a knot or knots.
To snarl or entangle.
To cause to form a knot or knots.

verb, intransitive

To form a knot or knots.
To become snarled or entangled.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English cnotta

Usage Note: In nautical usage knot is a unit of speed, not of distance, and has a built-in meaning of “per hour.” Therefore, a ship would strictly be said to travel at ten knots (not ten knots per hour).

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