know
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information gained from experience 9 know better: a) to be wise or well-trained enough (not to): She's old enough to know better than to take sweets from a strange man. b) to know or think that one knows more (than someone or anyone else): He says he was there at the time, but I know better. (=I know he was not) I suppose you think you know better than your parents! 10 know one's business to be good at doing one's work, arranging one's life etc 11 know one's own mind to have firm ideas about what one wants, likes etc 12 know one's stuff/one's onions infml to be good at or know all one should know about one's work, a subject etc 13 know which side one's bread is buttered infml to know how to make oneself liked by people in power or how to gain their approval; know what is to one's advantage 14 let someone know to tell or inform someone: Let me know when you'll be coming. | Thank you for your application; we'll let you know. (=tell you soon whether you have been successful in getting the job or not) 15 not know someone from Adam infml not to know who someone, especially a man, is or what they look like: I've met her several times, but she says she doesn't know me from Adam. 16 not that I know of not so far as I know; not to my knowledge: 'Is there anything else to discuss?' 'Not that I know of.' 17 there's no knowing it is impossible to know: There's no knowing what the eventual cost will be. 18 (Well,) what do you know! infml, especially AmE (used as an expression of usually pleased surprise): 'I'm getting married tomorrow.' 'Well, what do you know!' 19 you know infml a) (used for adding force to a statement) → see USAGE b) '/..'/ (used when one is reminding someone of something): 'Who's Chris?' 'Oh, you know, that boy she's been seeing.' 20 you never know (often used to avoid giving a direct answer to a question) possibly; perhaps: 'Will you be coming next week?' 'You never know.'
1 Compare know and learn. To know is to be conscious of (a fact), to have skill in (a subject), or to have met (a person) before: I knew I had passed my exam before the teacher told me. | She knows about computers. | Do you know how to drive? | I don't know your brother (=I haven't met him). To learn is to gain knowledge of (a fact or subject, but not a person): I learnt that I had passed the test. | She's learning about computers. | I'm learning how to drive. (=I can't drive yet) 2 In informal conversation you know is often used (sometimes too much) without very much meaning to attract or keep the attention of the listener, or just to fill pauses in the person's speech: You know, I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. | It's strange, you know, that he hasn't phoned. | I'm very fond of you, you know.
know things/people apart phr v [T] to be able to see the difference between: The two sisters are so alike you'd hardly know them apart.
know sthg./sbdy. backwards phr v [T] infml to know or understand perfectly: We've been through this contract so many times that I know it backwards!
know sthg./sbdy. from sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] to understand the difference between (one person or thing) and (another): He doesn't know his left from his right/know good writing from bad.
know of sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] to have heard of or about something: Do you know of any way to get wine stains out of cloth?
know² n in the know infml having more information (about something) than most people: People in the know say the economy's in trouble.
'know-all also know-it-all especially AmE — n infml derog someone who behaves as if they know everything: OK Mr Know-it-all, what's the capital of Namibia?
'know-how n [U] infml practical ability or skill; experience in a particular area of activity: I haven't the technical know-how to attempt this repair job. | The Chinese are buying products, equipment, and know-how from abroad.
know·ing /'nəʊɪ/ adj showing or suggesting that one knows all about something: He said nothing but gave us a knowing look.
know·ing·ly /'nəʊɪŋli/ adv 1 in a knowing manner 2 intentionally; with knowledge of the probable effect: She would never knowingly hurt anyone.
'know-it-all n especially AmE a KNOW-ALL
knowl·edge /'nɒlɪdʒ||'nɑː-/ n 1 [S;U(of)] what a person knows; the facts, information, skills, and understanding that one has gained, especially through learning or experience: a man of considerable knowledge (=who knows a lot) | discoveries that have increased the sum of human knowledge (=the amount that people know) | She has a detailed knowledge of this period. | My knowledge of French is rather poor. | It's common knowledge (=everyone knows) that he's a compulsive gambler. → compare LEARNING; see also WORKING KNOWLEDGE 2 [U] the state of being informed about something; awareness (AWARE): The matter never came/was never brought to the knowledge of the minister. (=He never found out or was never told about it.) | They did it without my knowledge. (=I didn't know about it) | I reminded her about our agreement, but she denied all knowledge of it. (=said she knew nothing about it) | [+that] We went to bed happy in the knowledge that our daughter was safe. 3 to (the best of) one's knowledge so far as one knows: I am not quite sure, but to the best of my knowledge his story is true. | He has been there several times, to my (certain) knowledge. | 'Has she arrived?' 'Not to my knowledge.' 4 [the] BrE the practical information that a London taxi driver must learn before he is LICENSED: He quit his job at the cafe and now he's doing the knowledge.
knowl·edge·a·ble /'nɒlɪdʒəbəl||'nɑː-/ adj [(about)] (of a person) knowing a lot: He's very knowledgeable about wines. —bly adv: He speaks very knowledgeably about wines.
Knowles, Be·yon·cé /nəʊlz, bi'ɒnsel||bi'ɑːn-/ (1981–) a US singer and songwriter with the group Destiny's Child, known for being sexually attractive. She has also recorded songs on her own, such as Crazy in Love, and has acted in films such as The Fighting Temptations.
known¹ /nəʊn/ past participle of KNOW: a disease with no known cure
known² adj 1 [A] generally recognized as being the stated thing: a known criminal 2 known as: a) generally recognized as: She's known as a great singer. b) also publicly called; named: Samuel Clemens, known as Mark Twain, became a famous American writer. → see also AKA 3 known to known by; familiar to: He's known to the police. (=as a criminal) 4 make oneself known to fml to introduce oneself to 5 make something known fml to tell people about something openly or publicly: He made it known to his friends that he did not want to enter politics.
Knox, John /nɒks|nɑːks/ (?1505-72) a Scottish Protestant religious leader, who opposed Scotland's Catholic queen, MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. He started the PRESBYTERIAN religion in Scotland, a new type of Christianity based on the strict rules of moral behaviour of CALVINISM, and he also established the Church of Scotland.
knuck·le¹ /'nʌkəl/ n 1 a finger joint, especially the one joining the finger to the hand: I bruised my knuckles. → see picture at HAND 2 a piece of meat including the lowest joint of the leg: a knuckle of pork 3 near the knuckle BrE infml almost offensive because of being sexually improper: That joke of his was a bit near the knuckle, don't you think?
knuckle² v
knuckle down phr v [I(to)] to start working hard: You'll really have to knuckle down if you want to pass the exam. | We knuckled down to the job/to finding the answer.
knuckle under phr v [I(to)] to be forced to accept the orders of someone more powerful: He refused to knuckle under (to any dictatorship).
knuck·le·ball /'nʌkəlbɔːl/ n (in BASEBALL) a way of throwing a ball which makes the ball move slowly but in unexpected ways
'knuckle-duster usually brass knuckles AmE — n a metal covering for the knuckles, used as a weapon for hitting people
knuck·le·head /'nʌkəlhed/ n [C] AmE spoken used to address someone whom you like who has done something stupid: You knucklehead, you can't go around saying that!
KO¹ /ˌkeɪ 'əʊ/ n infml abbrev. for KNOCKOUT¹