kneecap
Kneecap (noun) means the small, flat, roughly round bone at the front of the knee joint; the patella. Example: “The impact fractured his kneecap.”
How to use kneecap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally the kneecap bone, or, figuratively, to badly cripple someone's plans or chances.
Word forms
kneecapped past tense, kneecaps plural, kneecaps singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The impact fractured his _____.
Etymology
From knee + cap, describing the cap-shaped bone that sits over the knee joint.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for kneecap
See all rhymes for kneecap →Frequently asked questions
What does “kneecap” mean?
The word “kneecap” means the small, flat, roughly round bone at the front of the knee joint; the patella. In plain terms, literally the kneecap bone, or, figuratively, to badly cripple someone's plans or chances.
How do you pronounce “kneecap”?
“Kneecap” is pronounced NEE-kap (/ˈniːˌkæp/ in IPA).
How do you use “kneecap” in a sentence?
Here is “kneecap” used in a sentence: “The impact fractured his kneecap.”
What part of speech is “kneecap”?
Depending on how it is used, “kneecap” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “kneecap” have?
“Kneecap” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the small, flat, roughly round bone at the front of the knee joint; the patella.