verb

knead

need

Knead (verb) means to press, fold, and work a soft mixture (especially dough) with the hands until it becomes smooth and even. Example: “She kneaded the dough for ten minutes until it turned smooth and elastic.”

verb

To press, fold, and work a soft mixture (especially dough) with the hands until it becomes smooth and even.

"She kneaded the dough for ten minutes until it turned smooth and elastic."

"He kneaded the sore muscles in her back."

Of a cat: to push its paws rhythmically against a soft surface, an instinctive behaviour left over from kittenhood.

"The cat curled up on the blanket, kneading it contentedly before falling asleep."

How to use knead

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo work something soft, usually dough or muscle, by pressing and folding it repeatedly with your hands.

Common pairings

knead the dough knead dough by hand knead a knot out of a muscle

Word forms

kneaded past tense, knead past tense, kneaden past tense, knodden past tense, kneads plural, kneads singular

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She _____ the dough for ten minutes until it turned smooth and elastic.

Etymology

From Old English cnedan, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to press together."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for knead

head read lead dead bead mead bread plead tread ahead dread stead

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Frequently asked questions

What does “knead” mean?

The word “knead” means to press, fold, and work a soft mixture (especially dough) with the hands until it becomes smooth and even. In plain terms, to work something soft, usually dough or muscle, by pressing and folding it repeatedly with your hands.

How do you pronounce “knead”?

“Knead” is pronounced need (/niːd/ in IPA).

How do you use “knead” in a sentence?

Here is “knead” used in a sentence: “She kneaded the dough for ten minutes until it turned smooth and elastic.”

What part of speech is “knead”?

“Knead” is a verb.

Where does the word “knead” come from?

The word “knead” comes from Old English. From Old English cnedan, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to press together.".

How many meanings does “knead” have?

“Knead” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to press, fold, and work a soft mixture (especially dough) with the hands until it becomes smooth and even.