KNEAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does knead mean? 

• KNEAD (verb)
  The verb KNEAD has 2 senses:

1. make uniform

2. manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes

  Familiarity information: KNEAD used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KNEAD (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they knead    ... he / she / it kneads   
Past simple: kneaded   
Past participle: kneaded   
-ing form: kneading   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make uniform

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

knead; work

Context example:

work the clay until it is soft

Hypernyms (to "knead" is one way to...):

manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)

Verb group:

crop; cultivate; work (prepare for crops)

work (behave in a certain way when handled)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "knead"):

proof (knead to reach proper lightness)

masticate (grind and knead)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

knead; massage; rub down

Context example:

She rubbed down her child with a sponge

Hypernyms (to "knead" is one way to...):

manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)

"Knead" entails doing...:

rub (move over something with pressure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

A treatment in which the soft tissues of the body are kneaded, rubbed, tapped, and stroked.

(Massage therapy, NCI Dictionary)

A young woman was kneading with skilful fingers the tired muscles of his legs.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

A therapeutic method of manipulation, methodical pressure, friction, and kneading of the body.

(Massage therapy, NCI Thesaurus)

“We will bake first,” said the old woman, “I have already heated the oven, and kneaded the dough.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

When I was as old as you, I was a feeling fellow enough, partial to the unfledged, unfostered, and unlucky; but Fortune has knocked me about since: she has even kneaded me with her knuckles, and now I flatter myself I am hard and tough as an India-rubber ball; pervious, though, through a chink or two still, and with one sentient point in the middle of the lump.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A type of complementary and alternative medicine that uses rubbing and kneading of the skin with plant oils that give off strong, pleasant aromas (smells) to promote relaxation, a sense of well-being, and healing.

(Aromatherapy massage, NCI Dictionary)