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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Biel and husband Justin Timberlake tied the knot in 2012. —

Angel Saunders, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025 The two went on to tie the knot in a private ceremony in 2004, later welcoming two children: daughter Satine, 17, and son Luca, 10. —

Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025

Verb

The caption also said that simply playing with another dog or touching the carpet was enough to cause the dog's hair to knot. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025 Bags have knotted detailing–and bottoms are also tied uniquely to create an interesting effect. —

Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for knot

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 11 Feb. 2025.

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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: 1 Feb 2025 - 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