knot 1 (n t)n. 1. 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. 2. A decorative bow of ribbon, fabric, or braid. 3. A unifying bond, especially a marriage bond. 4. A tight cluster of persons or things: a knot of onlookers. 5. A feeling of tightness: a knot of fear in my stomach. 6. A complex problem. 7. 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. 8. A protuberant growth or swelling in a tissue: a knot in a gland. 9. 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. v. knot·ted, knot·ting, knots v.tr. 1. To tie in or fasten with a knot or knots. 2. To snarl or entangle. 3. To cause to form a knot or knots. v.intr. 1. To form a knot or knots. 2. To become snarled or entangled. [Middle English, 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). |
| knot 2 (nt) n. Either of two migratory sandpipers (Calidris canutus or C. tenuirostris) that breed in Arctic regions. [Middle English, of Scandinavian origin.] |
knotting [ˈnɒtɪŋ]
n
1. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) a sealer applied over knots in new wood before priming to prevent resin from exuding
2. (esp formerly) a kind of decorative knotted fancywork
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