knot

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈnät

: an interlacement of the parts of one or more flexible bodies forming a lump or knob (as for fastening or tying together)

: the lump or knob so formed

: a tight constriction or the sense of constriction

my stomach was all in knots

: something hard to solve : problem

a matter full of legal knots

: a bond of union

especially : the marriage bond

: a protuberant lump or swelling in tissue

a knot in a gland

: the base of a woody branch enclosed in the stem from which it arises

also : its section in lumber

: a cluster of persons or things : group

: an ornamental bow of ribbon : cockade

: a division of the log's line serving to measure a ship's speed

b(1)

: one nautical mile per hour

(2)

: one nautical mile

—not used technically

: a closed curve in three-dimensional space

Illustration of knot

1 Blackwall hitch
2 carrick bend
3 clove hitch
4 cat's-paw
5 figure eight
6 granny knot
7 bowline
8 overhand knot
9 fisherman's bend
10 half hitch
11 square knot
12 slipknot
13 stevedore knot
14 true lover's knot
15 surgeon's knot
16 Turk's head
17 sheet bend
18 timber hitch
19 seizing
20 rolling hitch
21 sheepshank

knot

2 of 3

verb

knotted; knotting

transitive verb

: to tie in or with a knot : form knots in

: to unite closely or intricately : entangle

: tie sense 4b

knotted the score

intransitive verb

: to form knots

knotter noun

knot

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural knots or knot

: 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

Examples of knot in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The breeze was soft, and the boat was making seven knots. —

Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024 To name a few, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen tied the knot at at Villa Pizzo in 2013 and Selling the OC Star Alexandra Jarvis married Sergio Ducoulombier at the iconic Villa del Balbianello in 2023. —

Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024 Unfortunately, Bode gets his freedom just as Gabriela prepares to tie the knot. —

Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 17 May 2024 The vessel can be equipped with either three MAN or MTU engines that will enable a maximum speed of 33 knots and a cruising speed of 26 knots, ISA says. —

Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 May 2024 Step 2: Tie your hook onto your line using your preferred knot. —

Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 16 May 2024 Hailey, 27, and Justin, 30, have been married for more than five years, after tying the knot in a courthouse in 2018. —

Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 9 May 2024 Backyard Bass, 10 a.m. at Krannert Park in Indy: Join Clint Kowalik of Go Fishin’ with Clint and learn how to tie a fishing knot, rig up a rod and cast for Backyard Bass. —

Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 9 May 2024 Winds may gust close up to 30 knots Saturday afternoon. —

Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 9 May 2024

Verb

Entering the final round at Valhalla they are knotted 15-under. —

Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024 The jersey material is lightweight and stretchy, while the V-neck design and knot detailing add the perfect amount of intrigue. —

Megan Schaltegger, Peoplemag, 18 May 2024 Long Beach regained the lead in the third inning with an RBI groundout from Sinclair Lawhorn, but Fullerton again answered when Megan Delgadillo led off with a double then came home on Kika Ramirez’s single to knot the score at 3-3. —

Staff and News Service Reports, Orange County Register, 11 May 2024 After the first four games of the series against the Clippers, with the teams knotted at two wins apiece, Dončić was dragging. —

Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 May 2024 Martha sets off a reaction that reaches back into the foundations of Donny’s sense of self, angrily knotted with the blame and shame that assaults often conjure, and his confused and anarchic sexuality in the wake of a traumatic event. —

Raven Smith, Vogue, 3 May 2024 Five scoreless innings of relief from Ryan Walker, Erik Miller, Taylor Rogers, Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval ensured that Bailey’s fifth-inning homer stood up as the decisive blow after Kyle Harrison completed only four innings and left the game knotted at 3. —

Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024 Garcia’s spectacular shot came after the Aggies outscored Houston 17-5 to end regulation, knotting it up at 86-86. —

Ben Morse, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024 Grab a plastic child-safe tapestry needle and thread it with colored yarn, knotting the end to secure it. —

Nicole Harris, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of knot was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing knot

Cite this Entry

Style

“Knot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knot. Accessed 23 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

knot

1 of 2 noun

ˈnät

: an interlacing (as of string or ribbon) that forms a lump or knob

: something hard to solve : problem

: a bond of union

especially : the marriage bond

: a lump or swelling in bodily tissue

: the base of a woody branch enclosed in the stem from which it arises

also : a section of a knot in lumber

: a cluster of persons or things

: one nautical mile per hour

knot

2 of 2 verb

knotted; knotting

: to tie in or with a knot

: to unite closely

Medical Definition

knot

noun

ˈnät

: 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

: a usually firm or hard lump, swelling, or protuberance (as in a muscle or on the surface of a bone) or process

a knot in a gland

a bone with two or three knots

knot verb

knotted; knotting

Last Updated: 22 May 2024 - Updated example sentences

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knot

noun (1)

Illustration of knot

verb

noun (2)

Synonyms

Examples of knot in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near knot

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition