knob

noun

ˈnäb 

1

a

: a small rounded ornament or handle

b

: a rounded protuberance : lump

2

: a rounded usually isolated hill or mountain

knobbed

ˈnäbd 

adjective

knobby

ˈnä-bē 

adjective

Synonyms

• blob
• chunk
• clod
• clot
• clump
• dollop
• glob
• gob
• gobbet
• hunk
• lump
• nub
• nubble
• nugget
• wad

Examples of knob in a Sentence

a carved walking stick with a silver knob

toss a knob of butter into the frying pan

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet the goals are simple: one, to locate the greatest mass of the barrel at a spot where the analytics suggest the most frequent contact is made by the hitter; and two, to support faster swings by moving weight distribution toward the bat knob. —Michael Peregrine, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Breccia Capraia marble tops the lounge bar, fitted with a custom brass edge, a Perrin & Row faucet, and Foro by Waterworks knobs and pull. —Andrew Sessa, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2025

Match the rails to the other metal elements in your bathroom like your faucet, showerhead, and cabinet pulls and knobs. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025

Nobody feels like Picasso when turning knobs on an Etch-A-Sketch. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English knobbe; akin to Middle Low German knubbe knob

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing knob

• stop knob

Rhymes for knob

• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• lob
• mob
• rob

Kids Definition

knob

noun

ˈnäb 

1

a

: a rounded lump

b

: a small rounded handle

2

: a rounded hill

knobbed

ˈnäbd 

adjective

knobby

ˈnäb-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

knob

noun

ˈnäb 

: a rounded protuberance or lump

knobby

ˈnäb-ē 

adjective