knight
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knight
knight
knight¹/naɪt/ n 1 (in former times) a man of noble rank
trained to fight, especially on horseback: knights in armour
➡ see also ROUND TABLE, WHITE KNIGHT 2 a man who has
the title SIR given to him by the king or queen ➡ compare
DAME; see also DUB 3 (in CHESS) a piece, usually with a
horse's head, that moves two squares forward or backward
and one or two squares sideways, moving three squares
altogether ➡ see picture at CHESSMAN 4 knight in shining
armour a brave or admirable person, especially one who
saves a person from a dangerous or difficult situation. In old
stories, a knight in shining armour (=a noble man wearing a
suit of ARMOUR) often RESCUED a young noble woman called
a damsel in distress. ➡ see also DAMSEL
knight² v [T] to make (someone) a knight: He has been
knighted by the Queen for services to British industry.
Knight, Bobby (1940-) a US COACH (=person who trains a
team) for Indiana University's BASKETBALL team. He is
known for getting angry very easily and for shouting at
other coaches, but he is also a very successful coach.
knight-'errant n pl. knights-errant a knight in former times
who wandered in search of adventures, especially ones
which included helping people in trouble
knight-hood /'naɪθʊd/ n [C;U] the rank, title, or state of a
knight: He received a knighthood for his services to British
industry.
knight-ly/'naɪtli/ adj lit of or suitable to a knight, especially
in being brave and noble: knightly conduct
Knights-bridge /'naɪtsbrɪdʒ/ an area in western central
London which has expensive, fashionable shops, such as
HARRODS, and HARVEY NICHOLS, and is a very expensive place
to live
Knights of the Round 'Table, the the KNIGHTS led by
King Arthur, who, according to old English stories, sat
together at a table, which was round so that no one should
seem to be more important than any of the others ➡ see also
ARTHURIAN LEGEND
knit
Knights Tem-plars, the /ˌnaɪts 'templərz/-arz/ also the
Knights of the Temple of 'Solomon n [plural] a
military and Christian religious group of KNIGHTS during
the MIDDLE AGES, who protected people travelling in and to the
HOLY LAND during the CRUSADES
knit¹ /nɪt/ v knitted, or knit [I;T] 1 to make (things to wear) by
joining woollen threads into a close network with long
needles (knitting needles) usually done by women: to knit a
sweater I can knit while I watch TV. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] She's
knitting the baby a pair of bootees. ➡ compare CRO-
CHET² 2 tech to use a PLAIN stitch in making (something) in
this way: Knit one, purl one. | Knit to the last ten stitches. ➡
compare PURL 3 [(TOGETHER)] to join (people or things)
closely: It's not a serious break; the bone should knit (together)
in a couple of weeks. 4 knit one's brows lit to show displeas-
ure, worry, or deep thought by frowning (FROWN) ➡ see also
CLOSE-KNIT➡-ter n: She's a fast knitter.
knit² n PLAIN
knit-ting /'nɪtɪŋ/ n [U] something which is being knitted:
She keeps her knitting in a bag.
'knitting ma.chine n a machine used for knitting
knit-wear /'nɪt-wɛər/ n [U] knitted clothing: This shop sells
knitwear.
knives /naɪvz/ pl. of KNIFE
knob /nɒbl:nɑ:b/ n 1 a round lump, especially on the surface
or at the end of something: a stick with a knob on the end | a
knob of butter 2 a round handle or control button: the
knobs on a TV 3 Br taboo slang a PENIS 4 with knobs on BrE
old-fash slang (used to make (especially angry remarks)
stronger): 'You're an idiot!' 'And the same to you, with knobs
on!'
knob-bly /'nɒblɪl'nɑ:bli/ BrE || knob-by /'nɒbɪl'nɑ:bi/ AmE
-adj having round knob-like lumps: knobblly knees
knock¹/nɒk||nɑ:k/ v 1 [I] a) [(against)] to come into forceful
connection with, usually making a noise when doing so: a
branch knocking against the window b) [(on, at)] to hit a door
firmly with one's hand or a KNOCKER (1), especially in order
to inform the people inside of one's presence: Please knock
(on/at the door) before entering. ➡ compare TAP³ 2 [T] a) to
hit hard: Don't knock those glasses, they're fragile! | [+obj+adv/
prep] He knocked the fish on the head to kill it quickly. | She
knocked a cup off the table. | She knocked some nails into the
wall. He knocked their heads together to make them see
sense. | [+obj+adj] A falling branch knocked him uncon-
scious. b) [+obj+adv/prep] to make (something) by hitting
hard: He knocked a hole in the wall. 3 [T] infml to express
unfavourable opinions about; CRITICIZE: Stop knocking him;
he's doing his best. 4 [I] (of a car engine) to make a noise
because something is wrong: If the engine starts knocking, it
could be a worn big-end bearing. ➡ see also ANTI-
KNOCK 5 knock someone cold a) to KNOCK out (1a) b)
also knock someone sideways/for six — to surprise some-
one and usually make them unable to act in reply: The news of
her sudden death really knocked me for six. 6 knock
something on the head infml to prevent a hope, plan,
suggestion etc from being put into action 7 knock some-
one's block off (especially in threats) to hit someone very
severely: If you insult my wife again I'll knock your block
off! 8 knock spots off BrE infml to defeat easily; be much
better than: He can knock spots off me at tennis. 9 knock the
bottom out of infml to take away the necessary support on
which something rests: The bad news knocked the bottom out
of market prices. | That knocks the bottom out of my argu-
ment. 10 take a knock to suffer a physical blow: (fig.) Her
hopes of becoming an MP have taken quite a knock. 11 you
could have knocked me down/over with a feather infml,
often humor I was extremely surprised ➡ see also knock one's
head against a brick wall (HEAD¹) 12 knock on wood AmE ||
touch wood BrE (used to keep away bad luck, so that
something good will continue): My house has never been
burgled, knock on wood.
knock about/around phr v infml 1 [I;T(= knock about sthg.) no
pass.] to remain unnoticed in (a place): That old typewriter
has been knocking about (the house) for years. 2 [+adv/prep] to
be active, and especially to travel continuously: He's knocked
about in Africa for years. 3 [I(with, TOGETHER)] to be seen in
public (with someone); have a relationship, often sexual:
Sally's been knocking about with Jim for years. 4 [T(knock
sbdy. about)] to treat roughly, especially by hitting: They say he
knocks his wife about. | The prisoner seemed to have been
knocked about a bit. ➡ se also KICK ABOUT/AROUND
knock back phr v [T] infml 1 [(knock sthg. ⇔ back)] to drink
quickly or in large quantities: I've seen him knock back ten
whiskies in an evening. 2 [(knock sbdy. back sthg.)] BrE to cost (a
large amount): That car must have knocked you back a few
pounds! 3 [(knock sbdy. back)] to surprise; shock: The news
really knocked him back.
knock sbdy./sthg. down phr v [T often pass.] 1 to destroy
and remove the structure of (a building, bridge etc); DEMOL-
ISH: Our house is being knocked down to make way for a new
road. 2 BrE also knock sbdy. ⇔ over- to hit (someone) with
the vehicle one is driving, so that they fall to the ground:
Alec was knocked down by a bus yesterday. 3 [(to)] (cause
to) reduce (a price): The price was knocked down to £3. | I
knocked him down to £3. 4 [(to)] (at an AUCTION) to sell,
usually at a low price: The wine was knocked down at £30/was
knocked down to Mr Johnson for £30. ➡ see also KNOCKDOWN