KNUCKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does knuckle mean? 

• KNUCKLE (noun)
  The noun KNUCKLE has 1 sense:

1. a joint of a finger when the fist is closed

  Familiarity information: KNUCKLE used as a noun is very rare.

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

1. press or rub with the knuckles

2. shoot a marble while keeping one's knuckles on the ground

  Familiarity information: KNUCKLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KNUCKLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A joint of a finger when the fist is closed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

knuckle; knuckle joint; metacarpophalangeal joint

Hypernyms ("knuckle" is a kind of...):

articulatio synovialis; diarthrosis; synovial joint (a joint so articulated as to move freely)

Holonyms ("knuckle" is a part of...):

finger (any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb))

Derivation:

knuckle (press or rub with the knuckles)

• KNUCKLE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Press or rub with the knuckles

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

knuckle (a joint of a finger when the fist is closed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Shoot a marble while keeping one's knuckles on the ground

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

shoot (throw or propel in a specific direction or towards a specific objective)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

I noticed at the same time that the Kanaka’s knuckles were laid open clear across and to the bone.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"You passed 'em to him, you red-head sneakin' in behind the push there," Martin went on, as he tossed the knuckles into the water.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He held out his hand, and I saw in the light of the lamp that two of his knuckles were burst and bleeding.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He rapped his knuckles again as he tried to pick it up.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Protrusion of a loop or knuckle of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening.

(Hernia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

He led at Berks’s head, as he came rushing in, and missed him, receiving a severe body blow in return, which left the imprint of four angry knuckles above his ribs.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My own accidental cut across the knuckles was a flea-bite.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Instinctively the clasp on his wife's hand grew closer, till his knuckles looked white.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

They say he could chalk his billiard-cue with his knuckles.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Micawber, with a perfect miracle of dexterity or luck, caught his advancing knuckles with the ruler, and disabled his right hand.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)