knot

A tight joining or loop made by tying rope, string, or similar material.

• Tie a knot in the rope.
• She carefully untied the tight knot.
• My shoelaces have several knots in them.

Common phrases: tie a knot, untie a knot, tight knot, knot in something

A unit used to measure ship or aircraft speed, equal to one nautical mile per hour.

• One knot is one nautical mile per hour.
• The aircraft's indicated airspeed was ninety knots.
• The pilot reduced speed by ten knots.

Common phrases: one knot, per knot, half a knot

A hard, rounded mark in wood where a branch once grew.

• There is a knot in this board.
• The pine table has several dark knots.
• He cut around the knot to avoid splitting the wood.

Common phrases: knot in wood, dark knot, wood knot

To tie rope, string, or similar material into a tight joining or loop.

• Knot the ends together.
• She knotted a scarf around her neck.
• He had knotted the rope so tightly that I could not undo it.

How to use it: knot A and B together (She knotted the two cords together.)

Similar words: tie

Opposites: untie, unknot

Common phrases: knot the rope, knot something together, knot a scarf

To make lines appear on your forehead because you are thinking, worried, or surprised.

• She knotted her brow.
• He knotted his forehead as he studied the map.
• Her brow knotted in confusion when she heard the news.

Similar words: furrow, wrinkle

Common phrases: knot one's brow, knot one's forehead