Knee Definition
Contents
English
Etymology
Old English cnēo, from Proto-Germanic *knewan (compare Low German Knee, Dutch/German knie, Swedish knä), from Proto-Indo-European *g̑néu̯o, a thematic derivative of *g̑ónu (compare Hittite genu, Latin genū, Tocharian (dual) A kanweṃ (dual), B kenī, Ancient Greek góny 'knee', gonía 'corner, angle', Armenian cunr, Avestan žnum, Sanskrit jánu).
Pronunciation
Noun
knee (plural knees)
- In humans, the joint in the middle part of the leg.
- Jessica was wearing shorts, so she skinned her exposed knees when she fell.
- (anatomy) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh and leg.
- (anatomy) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in humans.
- (shipbuilding) A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.
- 1980, Richard W. Unger, The Ship in the Medieval Economy 600-1600, page 41
- Deck beams were supported by hanging knees, triangular pieces of wood typically found underneath the timbers they are designed to support, but in this case found above them.
- 1980, Richard W. Unger, The Ship in the Medieval Economy 600-1600, page 41
- (archaic)An act of kneeling, especially to show respect or courtesy.
- Give them title, knee, and approbation. Shak.
- To make a knee.
- Any knee-shaped item or sharp angle in a line, "the knee of a graph", an inflection point
- A blow made with the knee; a kneeing
Derived terms
Verb
to knee (third-person singular simple present knees, present participle kneeing, simple past and past participle kneed)
- (transitive, archaic) to kneel to
- 1605: I could as well be brought / To knee his throne and, squire-like, pension beg / To keep base life afoot. — William Shakespeare, King Lear II.ii
- (transitive) poke or strike with the knee
Anagrams
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