: either of two sandpipers (Calidris canutus and C. tenuirostris) that breed in the Arctic and winter in temperate or warm parts of the New and Old World
Noun (1)
from the summit we could see knots of houses up and down the river valley
felt a small knot on the back of his head
their business partnership is strengthened by the knot of personal friendship knots of people were quietly chatting around the meeting hall
the situation involved so many legal knots that we decided to get a lawyer Verb
He knotted his tie so that both ends would be the same length.
the extension cords were hopelessly knotted together
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Advertisement Suri was born in 2006, just before her parents tied the knot.—Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2024 However, fans quickly discovered that the couple had tied the knot at Boone Hall Plantation, located a few miles outside of downtown Charleston, S.C. on Sept. 9, 2012.—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 23 June 2024
Verb
Elsewhere, historicism and modernity collided between a 2020 Richard Quinn outfit, smothered in crystals and Swarovski pearls recalling the historical button embroidery of East London’s Pearl Kings, and a Marc Jacobs modernist knotted dress from his spring 2023 collection.—Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 20 June 2024 With the series knotted up, the Yankees and Red Sox will cap Father’s Day with a Sunday Night Baseball showdown.—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for knot
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English cnotta; akin to Old High German knoto knot
Noun (2)
Middle English knott
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
: an interlacing of the parts of one or more flexible bodies (as threads or sutures) in a lump to prevent their spontaneous separation see surgeon's knot
2
: a usually firm or hard lump, swelling, or protuberance (as in a muscle or on the surface of a bone) or process
Share