knot
Knot (noun) means a fastening made by looping and tightening a piece of string, rope, or similar material. Example: “He tied a tight knot to secure the tent to the ground.”
How to use knot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tied loop in rope or string, a tight lump (like in a muscle), or, at sea, a unit of speed.
Don't confuse the speed unit "knot" with "miles per hour" — a knot already means nautical miles per hour, so phrases like "knots per hour" are redundant.
Word forms
knotted past tense, knots plural, knots plural, knot plural, knots singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He tied a tight _____ to secure the tent to the ground.
Etymology
From Old English cnotta, "knot," from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to bind."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for knot
See all rhymes for knot →Frequently asked questions
What does “knot” mean?
The word “knot” means a fastening made by looping and tightening a piece of string, rope, or similar material. In plain terms, a tied loop in rope or string, a tight lump (like in a muscle), or, at sea, a unit of speed.
How do you pronounce “knot”?
“Knot” is pronounced not (/nɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “knot” in a sentence?
Here is “knot” used in a sentence: “He tied a tight knot to secure the tent to the ground.”
What is another word for “knot”?
Words with a similar meaning to “knot” include join, put together and flummox.
What is the opposite of “knot”?
The opposite of “knot” — its antonyms — are loosen, unbind, unknot and untie.
What part of speech is “knot”?
Depending on how it is used, “knot” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “knot” come from?
The word “knot” comes from Old English. From Old English cnotta, "knot," from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to bind.".
Is “knot” a common word?
“Knot” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between a knot and a hitch?
A knot broadly refers to a fastening made by looping and tightening a piece of string, rope, or similar material, while a hitch is a specific type of knot used to attach a rope to another object. In everyday speech, "knot" is the general term covering many specific fastenings, including hitches.
Why is a knot used to measure ship speed instead of miles per hour?
A knot is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, and it became the standard for ships and aircraft because nautical miles are based on the Earth's geography rather than land-based measurements. This makes the knot more practical for navigation over open water than statute miles per hour.
What is the difference between a knot in a muscle and a knot in rope?
A knot in rope is a fastening made by looping and tightening the material, while a knot in a muscle refers to a hard, tight lump of tension, or can also describe a tangled clump of hair. Both senses share the image of something twisted or bunched tightly together.
Is "knot" only a noun, or can it be a verb too?
Knot works as both a noun and a verb. As a verb, to knot something means to tie it into a knot.
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