nod1 verbnod2 noun
nodnod1 /nɒd $ nɑːd/ ●●○ W2 verb (past tense and past participle nodded, present participle nodding) [intransitive, transitive] 
WORD ORIGINnod1
Origin:
1300-1400 Perhaps from Low GermanVERB TABLE
nod
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | nod |
| he, she, it | nods | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | nodded |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have nodded |
| he, she, it | has nodded | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had nodded |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will nod |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have nodded |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am nodding |
| he, she, it | is nodding | |
| you, we, they | are nodding | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was nodding |
| you, we, they | were nodding | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been nodding |
| he, she, it | has been nodding | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been nodding |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be nodding |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been nodding |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I asked her if she was OK, and she nodded.
- Everything seemed so strange and silvery in the starlight and every so often my head would nod and I'd stumble and start.
- Gina lay beside him; she had nodded off and was snoring loudly.
- I nodded and the old woman took my hand.
- In 63 minutes Burrows floated over a free and Hunter was there to nod the ball home at the near post.
- Slowly Penny nodded and then silently cast her eyes down to her plate.
- The experts nod across the seminar table.
- The guy nodded as if still trying to make sense of the story.
- The way to deal with him at such moments was to nod approvingly and pray such ideas would be forgotten.
Longman Language Activatorto make a movement or sound to tell someone something
to make a movement, especially with your hand, in order to tell someone something: · I'll make a sign when I'm ready.· The President made a sign to indicate that he wanted to leave.make a sign (that): · From across the room Marla made a sign that she had seen me come in.
to make a movement or sound in order to give instructions or information: · A sailor began signalling with two flags.signal to: · Graham finished his drink and signalled to the waiter.signal that: · An official signalled that it was time for the race to begin.signal somebody to do something: · Slowly he inched around the corner, signalling for the others to follow.
to make a previously agreed sign that tells someone that they should start doing something: · When I give the signal, I want you all to start clapping.give (somebody) the signal to do something: · The dog waited patiently until his master gave him the signal to eat.
to move your hand or arm from one side to the other, for example in order to get someone's attention or to tell them something: · She continued to wave as the car drove out of sight.wave at: · Who's that waving at you?wave to: · The emperor waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.wave for somebody to do something: · Yolanda waved for us to come over.wave somebody through/on (=wave to show someone that they can go through or continue their journey): · The customs officer at the border waved us through.wave goodbye (=wave to someone who is leaving): · Her parents stood in the doorway and waved goodbye.
to quickly close and open one eye, in order to show that you are joking or that you share a secret with someone: · Ben grinned at his father and winked.wink at: · "The weather's so nice, I'm thinking of calling in sick tomorrow," she said, winking at me.
to make a slight downward movement with your head to say 'yes' or 'hello' or to say that something can begin: · Rob nodded his head in agreement.· "Has he really left you?" I asked. Josie nodded miserably.nod/nod your head at/to: · The two men nodded to each other, as if they'd met before.nod/nod your head for somebody to do something: · She nodded for Mike to lead the way.
to use a movement of your hand, especially to tell someone to go to a place or to emphasize your meaning when you are saying something: · The man was gesturing wildly, but we couldn't understand what he wanted.gesture to/at: · "Please sit down," said Winters, gesturing at the chair facing his own.gesture to: · Celia began listing their recent purchases and gestured proudly to the fountain.gesture for somebody to do something: · I turned to see a large policeman gesturing for us to move along.
to use a short movement of your arm or hand to tell someone what to do or where to go: motion to: · Neil finished his meal, and then motioned to the waitress.motion for somebody to do something: · Seeing Bert in the doorway, I motioned for him to come in.motion somebody to do something: · Kemp started to object, but I motioned him to be quiet.
to use a movement of your finger or head to tell someone to come towards you: · She beckoned and he came running immediately.· He was leaning over the wall, beckoning me.beckon to: · Jan beckoned to me, but I knew better than to sit next to her.beckon somebody in/over/to etc: · "Come and look at this," he said, beckoning me over to the window.
to start sleeping · Are you two going to stop talking and go to sleep?· I looked over at Dave, but he had gone to sleep.· He lay on the sofa and pretended to go to sleep.go back to sleep (=go to sleep again after waking up) · If I wake up in the night, it takes me ages to go back to sleep.
to go to sleep - use this especially when you do not intend to, when you go to sleep quickly, or when going to sleep has been difficult: · Dad always falls asleep in front of the TV after Sunday lunch.· Has Monica fallen asleep yet?· I must have fallen asleep with the light on last night.fall asleep at the wheel (=while you are driving): · One in seven road accidents is caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
to go to sleep when you do not intend to and sleep lightly for a short time: · Sorry, I must have dozed off for a few minutes.· I was just beginning to doze off when the telephone rang.
to go to sleep easily and peacefully: · At around 12.30, she did eventually drop off for an hour or so.· She kept dropping off for a few minutes, before waking with a start.drop off to sleep: · Janir had dropped off to sleep on the living room couch.
to go to sleep when you are sitting down, especially when you are trying hard to stay awake: · Sarah had almost nodded off when Victor suddenly spoke.· As the speaker droned on, only the occasional nudge from my husband kept me from nodding off.
to go to sleep gradually: · He must have drifted off again, for when he awoke, the train had come to a halt.· She was just starting to drift off, when she heard a scream downstairs.drift off to sleep: · That night as he drifted off to sleep, Quincy tried to imagine what the day would have been like if Marta had been there.
British if someone, especially a baby, is off , they have started sleeping: · Is the baby off yet?· I always wait until he's off before I turn the light out.
informal to go to sleep very quickly and deeply because you are very tired: · I went back to bed, and was out like a light.· After a day on the ranch, you'll be out like a light, I can tell you.
informal to fall asleep very quickly, especially in a place where you do not normally sleep: · "Did you get any sleep last night?" "Yeah, I crashed out as soon as my head hit the pillow."· He'd flaked out on my bed.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Mom nodded her head sympathetically.
1to move your head up and down, especially in order to show agreement or understanding: Mom nodded her head sympathetically. (=show your approval etc by nodding) Corbett nodded his acceptance.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Corbett nodded his acceptance. (=have only slight knowledge or experience of something) He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects.
He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects.· ‘You’ve thought of everything,’ she said with a smile of approval.
(=move it up and down, especially to show agreement)· The audience nodded their heads enthusiastically.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· She nodded again, as if I had answered her.· Sam repeated numbly, nodding again.
· Around two in the morning she was just nodding off when suddenly her telephone rang again.· Inside the reef, on calmer waters, the boy gratefully nodded off to sleep, exhausted by his ordeal.· Perry has taken a generous hit from his lover and is now nodding off.· She said that all night long, like a lullaby, sometimes shaking me to keep me from nodding off.· Richie attempted to press on with An Early Bath for Thompson, but he soon nodded off.· The groom was brought to me and although he occasionally nodded off in my lap, he never once whined or fidgeted.· Then a bit later when I was just nodding off he says, Seamed stockings.· A crew-cut woman in dance tights and a big overcoat nodded off in the corner.
· He nodded slowly and she felt his gaze drift to the gold band on her wedding finger.· She looked at me, nodded slowly and set the trowel on the wall.· Scott nodded slowly, opening his eyes.· They nodded slowly, solemnly, like a jury passing sentence.
· Converse nodded thoughtfully and slid back on to the floor to sleep.· I felt distinctly baffled, but Holmes was nodding thoughtfully.
· Malamute stared earnestly at the floor, nodding vigorously at certain points in her narrative.
NOUN· Once he had learned that it was proving impossible he reluctantly nodded his agreement to a majority verdict.· The general manager nods in agreement and fires the anchors.· So she nodded in agreement, but he didn't release her wrist.· She nodded in agreement with whatever her uncle said.· Mr Crump nodded his agreement as he too gazed down.· I nodded in agreement, and I wondered aloud whether she did the same things with feelings.· Ruth nodded her agreement and he put out his hand and pulled her to her feet.· She smiled sadly and nodded in agreement.
· He glanced at the referee, who nodded approval.· They nodded approval, then asked Rice for clarification of certain details.· The Bishop nodded his approval of this asceticism before accepting the offer of a second helping from Madeleine.· People parted respectfully to let the Chilcott boys pass, nodding and murmuring their approval.· He glanced at the clock and nodded his approval without breaking the rhythm created by his fingers on the strings.
· And she'd nod meaningfully in the direction of the hovering Léonie: not in front of the children please.
· His eyelids became hooded and heavy, and his old head nodded gently upon his equally aged shoulders.· Most heads nod in assent; one or two want to keep on with their writing.· After a few minutes, he turned his head towards me and nodded.· At times his head would nod sleepily at formal dinners, and he lost the thread of conversations.· Her hands brushed the keys, her head began to nod, then her body to tremble.· I lifted him on to the top of my knapsack, where he clutched my head, nodding and falling asleep.· Advertising proved a more fertile category, with decisions which set heads nodding and shaking in equal measure.· The four braided and beribboned heads nodded.
· The other man returned and nodded.· The man nodded, smiling faintly.· The little man nodded his bald head, his eyes simple as a child's.· The man nodded sadly as though Hicks represented a mode of behavior with which he was wearily familiar.· The blond man had nodded a greeting to her, and Carol had been aware of his appraising gaze.· The old man behind the counter nodded, like he knew him.· Robinson nudged the man in front of him and nodded a greeting as the man turned.
VERB· Litchfield asked, and Sam nodded as he lit his cigarette, trying not to look as eager as he felt.
· Her grandmother said nothing, but nodded three times at the little girl.· Yep, the President said, nodding approvingly.
· So warm were the tributes that the Chancellor finally started to smile and nod his thanks.· Vassily was smiling and nodding and chuckling hoarsely.· Then she smiles, nods me in, and leads the way upstairs.· Tho drank, and then held the helmet towards Langford, smiling and nodding.· Mandru smiled and nodded, and preceded his entourage from the room.· She spoke, smiling and nodding.· Wiggs smiled, and Beach nodded.· I smiled and nodded but he would not be put off.
I asked her if she was ready to go, and she nodded. Mom nodded her head sympathetically.nod your approval/agreement etc (=show your approval etc by nodding) Corbett nodded his acceptance.2to move your head down and up again once in order to greet someone or give someone a sign to do somethingnod at The judge nodded at the foreman to proceed.nod to She nodded to us as she walked by.3have a nodding acquaintance (with something) to know a little about a subject but not a lot: Students will need to have a nodding acquaintance with Spanish.4have a nodding acquaintance (with somebody) (also be on nodding terms (with somebody) British English) to know someone but not very wellnod off phrasal verb to begin to sleep, usually when you do not intend to and are sitting somewhere: I missed the movie because I kept nodding off.nod1 verbnod2 noun
nodnod2 ●●○ noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Daniels gave a slight nod, and Bill started to speak.
- I asked if he was hungry, and he responded with a nod.
- He looked at Lee from an angle, cool and fixed, with a slow nod of the head to measure remarks.
- The nearest guard glanced at it, then ushered him through with a curt nod of his head.
- Then the silent man simply walked out of the room, with a nod and a smile.
- There is no doubt that this could be done by a nod.
- Thompson discounted the possibility that Dole would give him the nod.
Longman Language Activatora movement or sound that you make to tell someone something
a movement that you make in order to tell someone something: · He raised his hand in a sign of greeting.sign (that): · Mardas threw his hands in the air - a sign to his supporters that victory was theirs.sign for somebody to do something: · When the teacher puts her finger to her lips, it's a sign for you all to be quiet.
a sound or movement that you make in order to tell someone to do something: give a signal: · Don't start yet - wait until I give the signal.signal to do something: · The soldiers were waiting for the signal to start firing.signal for somebody to do something: · When I nod my head, that's the signal for you to start playing the music.hand signals: · Stock brokers use roughly 300 hand signals on the trading floor.
a movement of your hands, arms, or head that shows how you feel, especially when you are very worried or angry: gesture of: · Jim raised his hands in a gesture of despair.make a gesture: · Someone in another car started making gestures and pointing at our tires.make a rude gesture: · The fight started when one of the fans made a rude gesture at a player.
a slight downward movement you make with your head to say 'yes' to something or to say that something can begin: · I asked if he was hungry, and he responded with a nod.give (somebody) a nod: · Daniels gave a slight nod, and Bill started to speak.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I showed the doorman my card and he gave a friendly nod.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
I showed the doorman my card and he gave a friendly nod. (=have only slight knowledge or experience of something) He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects.
He has a passing acquaintance with a lot of different subjects.· ‘You’ve thought of everything,’ she said with a smile of approval.
(=move it up and down, especially to show agreement)· The audience nodded their heads enthusiastically.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· They parted at the front entrance, Silas favouring her with a brief nod before striding away.· They vary from a brief head nod or sagging of the body to a full-blown fall with injury.
· With a curt nod he beckoned the waiter, settled the bill, ushered her out into the silky darkness.· He thanks Paul with a curt nod.· He looked at me as though he had seen me somewhere before, but I passed by with a curt nod.· When the kitchen had been restored to its former tidiness, he gave her a curt nod, and walked out.· The nearest guard glanced at it, then ushered him through with a curt nod of his head.· On the sixth day, after a curt nod from the chef, Mark realised he must be doing something half-right.· Give what I hope is curt nod, though double chins seem to go on flapping for ever.· He gave a quick, curt nod to the soldiers on duty and turned on to the Al Ain road.
· Alice and Unice came in and gave her little nods, and sat down and knitted.· Then he gave a little nod, an apology for interrupting, and leaned the bike against the back porch.
· A younger woman with outsize spectacles behind them periodically gave a slight nod of her head.· Credibility, as we now know, gets not the slightest nod from me, even in passing.
VERB· If he does not make it, then utility back Anthony Stewart will get the nod.· Credibility, as we now know, gets not the slightest nod from me, even in passing.· Laing built the original centre 10 years ago and is odds-on to carry out the work if the scheme gets the nod.· Fleet/Norstar got the nod over the larger Bank of Boston for two reasons.· This time, deserving talent got the nod in many instances.· Julio Lugo gets the nod at shortstop from the start, assuming he is recovered from a mild shoulder separation.
· Sally Baker gave a complimentary nod as Tess reappeared from upstairs.· Thompson discounted the possibility that Dole would give him the nod.· He smiled at them and gave a small nod of acknowledgement.· We see each other in public places and we give each other the nod.· Lorton, who had been watching anxiously, gave him a nod of approval.· Once the hostess appeared to ask if we were enjoying our meals, and I managed to give her a silent nod.· A younger woman with outsize spectacles behind them periodically gave a slight nod of her head.· Then he gave a nod that included all the young ladies before he turned away.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► give somebody the nod/get the nod from somebody► a nod’s as good as a wink
1[countable] an act of nodding: - Everything went through on the nod.
- Funds for major projects and programmes have been approved virtually on the nod.
- Ira Sanchez offered a bet and the bookie took it on the nod.
The woman greeted us with a nod of the head. I showed the doorman my card and he gave a friendly nod.2give somebody the nod/get the nod from somebody informal to give or be given permission to do something: We’re waiting for the boss to give us the nod on this one.3 on the nod British English informal by general agreement and without people discussing it: The chairman’s proposals are usually passed on the nod.4a nod’s as good as a wink British English used to tell someone that you have understood something, although it was said in an indirect way → the land of nod at land1(9)