knee

1 of 2

noun

ˈnē 

often attributive

1

a

: a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella

also : the part of the leg that includes this joint

b(1)

: the joint in the hind leg of a four-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee

(2)

: the carpal joint of the foreleg of a four-footed vertebrate

c

: the tarsal joint of a bird

d

: the joint between the femur and tibia of an insect

2

: something resembling the human knee: such as

a

: a piece of timber naturally or artificially bent for use in supporting structures coming together at an angle (such as the deck beams of a ship)

b

: a rounded or conical process rising from the roots of various swamp-growing trees

cypress knee

3

: the part of a garment covering the knee

4

: a blow with the bent knee

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective

knee

2 of 2

verb

kneed; kneeing

transitive verb

1

: to strike with the knee

2

archaic : to bend the knee to

Phrases

to one's knees

: into a state of submission or defeat

Examples of knee in a Sentence

Noun

I fell down and hurt my knee.

She suffered a serious knee injury.

His knees trembled with fear.

He got down on one knee and proposed to her.

His little granddaughter sat on his knee.

Her jeans had holes at the knees.

Verb

His attacker kneed him in the stomach.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Richard crumples to his knees against the wall, his back to Pino, as blood begins to seep across the floor. —Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025

Twenty-three seconds in, Bogosian dropped to his knee in front and blocked a Pavel Buchnevich shot. —Joe Smith, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

Although the engagement has not yet been officially confirmed by the couple, sources including TMZ and People magazine have reported that the British actor went down on one knee over the holiday period. —Kate Matthams, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Place your back flat against a wall and stand with your feet about eight inches from the wall, with knees slightly bent. —Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cnēow; akin to Old High German kneo knee, Latin genu, Greek gony

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing knee

• housemaid's knee
• jumper's knee
• knee breeches
• knee-deep
• knee-high
• knee-high to a grasshopper
• knee jerk
• knee-length
• knee-slapper
• knee sock
• knock-knee
• learn (something) at one's mother's knee
• lock one's knee
• on bended knee
• water on the knee

Kids Definition

knee

1 of 2 noun

ˈnē 

1

: the joint or region in the middle part of the human leg in which the femur, tibia, and kneecap come together

also : a corresponding part of a four-footed mammal

2

: something resembling the knee

especially : a cone-shaped upward growth from the roots of a few swamp-growing trees (as a cypress of the southern U.S.) that extends above the surrounding water

3

: the part of a garment covering the knee

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective

knee

2 of 2 verb

kneed; kneeing

: to strike with the knee

Medical Definition

knee

noun

ˈnē 

1

a

: a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella

called also knee joint

b

: the part of the leg that includes this joint

2

a

: the joint in the hind leg of a 4-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee

b

: the carpal joint of the foreleg of a 4-footed vertebrate

kneed

ˈnēd 

adjective