: 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
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
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Noun
It is designed for 15 days of endurance at a cruising speed of 3 knots.—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 After a solid decade together, the lovebirds tied the knot in a private ceremony on Oct. 15, 2019.—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
Published on April 20, 2025 By Rachel Gallaher Courtesy of Marcel Wanders
Tapping into the visual language of one of the world’s oldest crafts, the woven trend appears to be knotted firmly in place.—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2025 The 3-point disparity, something that has stung Denver much of the season, enabled the Pelicans to hang around throughout a first half that ended with the score knotted 68-68.—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 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
: 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
2
: a usually firm or hard lump, swelling, or protuberance (as in a muscle or on the surface of a bone) or process
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