English Dictionary |
KNOCK
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
IPA (US): |
Dictionary entry overview: What does knock mean?
• KNOCK (noun)
The noun KNOCK has 5 senses:
1. the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
5. the act of hitting vigorously
Familiarity information: KNOCK used as a noun is common.
• KNOCK (verb)
The verb KNOCK has 6 senses:
1. deliver a sharp blow or push
3. knock against with force or violence
4. make light, repeated taps on a surface
5. sound like a car engine that is firing too early
6. find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
Familiarity information: KNOCK used as a verb is common.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
The sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
knock; knocking
Context example:
the knocking grew louder
Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):
sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)
Derivation:
knock (rap with the knuckles)
knock (sound like a car engine that is firing too early)
knock (make light, repeated taps on a surface)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Negative criticism
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
knock; roast
Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):
criticism; critique (a serious examination and judgment of something)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A vigorous blow
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
bang; bash; belt; knock; smash
Context example:
he got a bang on the head
Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):
blow; bump (an impact (as from a collision))
Derivation:
knock (deliver a sharp blow or push)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A bad experience
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Context example:
the school of hard knocks
Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):
bad luck; misfortune (unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event)
Sense 5
Meaning:
The act of hitting vigorously
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
belt; knock; rap; whack; whang
Context example:
he gave the table a whack
Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):
blow (a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon)
Derivation:
knock (deliver a sharp blow or push)
Conjugation: |
Past simple: knocked
Past participle: knocked
-ing form: knocking
Sense 1
Meaning:
Deliver a sharp blow or push
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
knock; strike hard
Context example:
He knocked the glass clear across the room
Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):
strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Also:
knock out (knock unconscious or senseless)
knock over (cause to overturn from an upright or normal position)
knock down (knock down with force)
knock cold (knock unconscious or senseless)
Derivation:
knock (a vigorous blow)
knock (the act of hitting vigorously)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Rap with the knuckles
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
knock on the door
Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
knock (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))
knocker (a person who knocks (as seeking to gain admittance))
knocking (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))
Sense 3
Meaning:
Knock against with force or violence
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
bump; knock
Context example:
My car bumped into the tree
Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):
collide with; hit; impinge on; run into; strike (hit against; come into sudden contact with)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Also:
knock about (strike against forcefully)
knock against (collide violently with an obstacle)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Make light, repeated taps on a surface
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
Context example:
he was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently
Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):
go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
knock (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))
Sense 5
Meaning:
Sound like a car engine that is firing too early
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
Context example:
The car pinked when the ignition was too far retarded
Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):
go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Derivation:
knock; knocking (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))
Sense 6
Meaning:
Find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart
Context example:
Don't knock the food--it's free
Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):
comment; notice; point out; remark (make or write a comment on)
"Knock" entails doing...:
evaluate; judge; pass judgment (form a critical opinion of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "knock"):
censure; criminate; reprimand (rebuke formally)
blast; crucify; pillory; savage (criticize harshly or violently)
admonish; reproof; reprove (take to task)
bawl out; berate; call down; call on the carpet; chew out; chew up; chide; dress down; have words; jaw; lambast; lambaste; lecture; rag; rebuke; remonstrate; reprimand; scold; take to task; trounce (censure severely or angrily)
reprehend; deplore (express strong disapproval of)
belabor; belabour (attack verbally with harsh criticism)
come down (criticize or reprimand harshly)
denounce (speak out against)
blame; find fault; pick (harass with constant criticism)
belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)
nitpick (be overly critical; criticize minor details)
assail; assault; attack; lash out; round; snipe (attack in speech or writing)
harsh on (criticize harshly)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Context examples
Yes, we quarreled, and he knocked me down.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Finally he returned to the pawnbroker’s, and, having thumped vigorously upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up to the door and knocked.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Yes, of course I should have knocked.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Then he knocked the ashes from his pipe, carefully refilled it, and after a thoughtful pause, lighted it again.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
I knocked gently and rang as quietly as possible, for I feared to disturb Lucy or her mother, and hoped to only bring a servant to the door.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Half-stunned by the blow, Buck was knocked backward and the lash laid upon him again and again, while Spitz soundly punished the many times offending Pike.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
My hand was lifted at her door to knock, when I recollected the smallness of the island.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Lysine inhibits HSV growth by knocking out arginine.
(Lysine, NCI Thesaurus)
I knocked. ‘Who is there?’ said the old man. ‘Come in.’
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
Mr. Dance told me to jump down and knock, and Dogger gave me a stirrup to descend by.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
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