noun
kneecap
NEE-kap
Kneecap (noun) means the small, flat, roughly round bone at the front of the knee joint; the patella. Example: “The impact fractured his kneecap.”
noun
1
The small, flat, roughly round bone at the front of the knee joint; the patella.
"The impact fractured his kneecap."
verb
1
To deliberately cripple someone by shooting or injuring their knees, historically used as a punishment by paramilitary groups.
"Paramilitaries were known to kneecap informers as a warning to others."
2
To badly and unnecessarily damage a plan, project, or person's chances.
"The new tax rules effectively kneecapped small businesses before they could get started."
How to use kneecap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally the kneecap bone, or, figuratively, to badly cripple someone's plans or chances.
Common pairings
a fractured kneecap
kneecap the deal
kneecap someone's chances
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Word forms
- Plural
- kneecaps
- Third person singular
- kneecaps
- Past tense
- kneecapped
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
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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.
