Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense knocks, present participle knocking, past tense, past participle knocked
1. verb
If you knockon something such as a door or window, you hit it, usually several times, to attract someone's attention.
She went directly to Simon's apartment and knocked on the door. [V + on/at]
Knock at my window at eight o'clock and I'll be ready. [Von/at n]
He knocked before going in. [VERB]
Synonyms: bang, beat, strike, tap More Synonyms of knock
Knock is also a noun.
They heard a knock at the front door. [+ at]
knockingsingular noun
They were wakened by a loud knocking at the door. [+ at]
2. verb
If you knock something, you touch or hit it roughly, especially so that it falls or moves.
She accidentally knocked the tea tin off the shelf. [VERB noun preposition]
The baby was knocked from his father's arms. [VERB noun preposition]
Isabel rose so abruptly that she knocked down her chair. [VERB noun with adverb]
Buckets of roses had been knocked over. [VERB noun with adverb]
[Also VERB noun]
Knock is also a noun.
The bags have tough exterior materials to protect against knocks, rain and dust.
3. verb
If someone knocks two rooms or buildings into one, or knocks them together, they make them form one room or building by removing a wall.
They decided to knock the two rooms into one. [VERB noun + into]
The spacious kitchen was achieved by knocking together three small rooms. [VERB noun with together]
4. verb
To knock someone into a particular position or condition means to hit them very hard so that they fall over or become unconscious.
The third wave was so strong it knocked me backwards. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
They were knocked to the ground and robbed of their wallets. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Someone had knocked him unconscious. [VERB noun adjective]
5. verb [no cont]
To knock a particular quality or characteristic that someone has, or to knock it out of them means to make them lose it.
Those people hurt me and knocked my confidence. [VERB noun]
The stories of his links with the actress had knocked the fun out of him. [V n + out of]
When they first joined for training many were starry eyed. We soon knocked that outof them. [V n out of n]
6. verb
If something knocks, it makes a repeated sharp banging noise.
His old truck, knocking and smoking, pulled down the road and out of sight. [VERB]
7. verb
If you knock something or someone, you criticize them and say unpleasant things about them.
[informal]
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them. [VERB noun]
Never knock charter flights; they are opening up the world for budget-conscious travellers. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: criticize, condemn, put down, run down More Synonyms of knock
knockerWord forms: plural knockerscountable noun
8. countable noun
If someone receives a knock, they have an unpleasant experience which prevents them from achieving something or which causes them to change their attitudes or plans.
What they said was a real knock to my self-confidence.
The art market has suffered some severe knocks during the past two years.
Synonyms: setback, check, defeat, blow More Synonyms of knock
9.
See knock them/'em dead
10.
See knock it off
11. to knock peoples' heads together
12. to knock something on the head
13. to knock someone or something into shape
14. to be knocked sideways
Phrasal verbs:
See knock about
See knock around
See knock back
See knock down
See knock off
See knock out
See knock over
See knock together
See knock up
More Synonyms of knock
knock in British English
(nɒk)
verb
1. (transitive)
to give a blow or push to; strike
2. (intransitive)
to rap sharply with the knuckles, a hard object, etc, esp to capture attention
to knock at the door
3. (transitive)
to make or force by striking
to knock a hole in the wall
4. (intransitive; usually foll byagainst)
to collide (with)
5. (transitive)
to bring into a certain condition by hitting or pushing
to knock someone unconscious
6. (transitive) informal
to criticize adversely; belittle
to knock someone's work
7. Also: pink(intransitive)
(of an internal-combustion engine) to emit a characteristic metallic noise as a result of faulty combustion
8. (intransitive)
(of a bearing, esp one in an engine) to emit a regular characteristic sound as a result of wear
9. British vulgar, slang
to have sexual intercourse with (a person)
10. knock a person into the middle of next week
11. knock one's head against
12. knock on the head
noun
13.
a.
a blow, push, or rap
he gave the table a knock
b.
the sound so caused
14.
the sound of knocking in an engine or bearing
15. informal
a misfortune, rebuff, or setback
16. informal
unfavourable criticism
17. informal
(in cricket) an innings or a spell of batting
Word origin
Old English cnocian, of imitative origin; related to Old Norse knoka to hit
knock in American English
(nɑk)
verb intransitive
1.
to strike a blow or blows with the fist or some hard object; esp., to rap on a door
2.
to bump; collide; clash
3.
to make a thumping, pounding, or rattling noise
said of an engine, etc.
4. US, Informal
to find fault; criticize adversely
5. US, Gin Rummy
to end a deal by exposing one's hand and showing a surplus of not more than ten points in unmatched cards
verb transitive
6.
to hit; strike
7.
to make by hitting or striking
to knock a hole in a wall
8. US, Informal
to find fault with; criticize adversely
noun
9.
the act of knocking
10.
a hit; sharp or resounding blow; rap, as on a door
11.
a thumping or rattling noise in an engine, etc., as because of faulty combustion
12. US, Informal
an adverse criticism
13. Informal
a misfortune or trouble
the school of hard knocks
Idioms:
knock about
knock back
knock down
knock for a loop
knock it off!
knock off
knock oneself out
knock out
knock out of the box
knock over
knock together
knock up
Word origin
ME knokken < OE cnocian, akin to ON knoka, MHG knochen, to press < echoic base > knack
knock in Automotive Engineering
(nɒk)
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Engine, transmission, and exhaust)
Knock is the noise caused by part of the air-fuel mixture in an engine cylinder burning before the normal combustion started by a spark.
Knock has less to do with the mechanical operation of an engine than with the fuel thatengine uses.
Lead was added to gasoline to stop engine knock in automobiles.
Sometimes, engine knock cannot be heard due to the absorption of the sound by the piston and cylinder head.
anti-knock
More idioms containing
knock
knock people's heads together
knock something on the head
knock something into a cocked hat
knock on the door of something
knock 'em dead
knock something sideways
knock someone sideways
knock someone off their pedestal
knock someone off their perch
knock something into shape
knock someone for six
someone or something will knock your socks off
knock spots off something or someone
knock the stuffing out of someone
Examples of 'knock' in a sentence
knock
Then there was a knock on the door.
The Sun (2017)
Serve it well chilled to knock back the sweetness further.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Three small rooms were knocked into one large space to make the kitchen.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
One round it will take me to knock him out.
The Sun (2016)
But there is no doubt the players have taken a knock for something that wasn't their fault.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I got knocked over a couple of times but always got up and finished sparring.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A driver who knocked down two pedestrians in a road rage attack has been jailed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She was knocked unconscious, but somehow managed to haul herself out of the pool once she came to.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It presently knocks about as Vast Resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They knocked us about and pulled us apart.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There was a knock at the door.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
The force of the impact threw me out of the minibus and knocked me unconscious.
The Sun (2012)
He picked up a couple of knocks.
The Sun (2011)
She has had a family life full of hard knocks.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We have had to knock out two or three to treat them.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They could be about to take another knock.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was the next one that knocked me over the edge.
Christianity Today (2000)
This is going to knock something off growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The next morning there was a knock on the door.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He was knocked unconscious and his car careered into the barrier before coming to a stop.
The Sun (2009)
He nearly knocked over a couple of pop fans en route.
The Sun (2011)
Most of them are so hard you can knock on them like a door.
The Sun (2008)
We will be trying to knock you back.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They knocked through two internal walls to connect three rooms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That form has taken a few knocks and he might be vulnerable.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
knock
British English: knock /nɒk/ NOUN
A knock is the act or sound of something being hit, such as a door or window, to attract someone's attention.
They heard a knock at the front door.
American English: knock
Arabic: خَبْطَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: batida som de bater
Chinese: 敲打
Croatian: kucanje
Czech: úder
Danish: bank slag
Dutch: klop klap
European Spanish: golpe sonido
Finnish: koputus
French: coup
German: Stoß
Greek: χτύπος
Italian: colpo
Japanese: たたくこと
Korean: 노크
Norwegian: banking
Polish: stukanie
European Portuguese: batida
Romanian: ciocănitură
Russian: удар
Latin American Spanish: golpe
Swedish: knackning
Thai: การเคาะ
Turkish: vuruş
Ukrainian: стук
Vietnamese: cú đánh
British English: knock /nɒk/ VERB
If you knock on something such as a door or window, you hit it, usually several times, to attract someone's attention.
She went directly to Simon's apartment and knocked on the door.
American English: knock
Arabic: يَخْبِطُ
Brazilian Portuguese: bater
Chinese: 敲打
Croatian: kucati
Czech: udeřit
Danish: banke
Dutch: kloppen op deuren
European Spanish: darse un golpe
Finnish: koputtaa
French: frapper
German: stoßen
Greek: βαράω
Italian: bussare
Japanese: たたく
Korean: 두드리다
Norwegian: banke
Polish: zapukać
European Portuguese: bater
Romanian: a ciocăni
Russian: стучать
Latin American Spanish: dar un golpe
Swedish: knacka
Thai: เคาะ
Turkish: kapıyı çalmak
Ukrainian: стукати
Vietnamese: đập cửa
All related terms of 'knock'
knock off
To knock off an amount from a price, time, or level means to reduce it by that amount.
knock-on
If there is a knock-on effect , one action or event causes several other events to happen one after the other.
knock out
To knock someone out means to cause them to become unconscious or to go to sleep .
knock up
If you knock something up , you make it or build it very quickly, using whatever materials are available .
no-knock
designating or based on laws or provisions which permit police with search warrants to enter a private dwelling by force without announcing or identifying themselves
anti-knock
An anti-knock agent helps to stop an engine from knocking , making it function more smoothly.
knock about
to wander about aimlessly
knock back
If you knock back a drink, especially an alcoholic one, you drink it quickly, and often in large amounts.
knock down
If someone is knocked down or is knocked over by a vehicle or its driver , they are hit by a car and fall to the ground, and are often injured or killed .
knock-knee
a condition in which the legs are bent inwards causing the knees to touch when standing
knock-kneed
Someone who is knock-kneed has legs which turn inwards at the knees .
knock-knees
a condition in which the legs are bent inwards causing the knees to touch when standing
knock over
to rob
knock around
If someone knocks you around or knocks you about , they hit or kick you several times.
knock it off
If you tell someone to knock it off , you are telling them to stop doing something that is annoying you.
knock together
If you knock something together , you make it or build it very quickly, using whatever materials are available .
postman's knock
a children's party game in which a kiss is exchanged for a pretend letter
knock-for-knock
designating an agreement between vehicle insurers that in the event of an accident each will pay for the damage to the vehicle insured with him or her without attempting to establish blame for the accident
knock 'em dead
said to someone to increase their confidence before they appear or do something in public, especially something formal such as giving a speech in front of a crowd
no-knock raid
a search warrant that allows police officers to enter a property without knocking
flow-on
resulting inevitably but indirectly from another event or circumstance
knock for a loop
to punch very hard
knock-on effect
something that results inevitably but indirectly from another event or circumstance
knock spots off
to outstrip or outdo with ease
knock oneself out
to make great efforts ; exhaust oneself
knockdown
A knockdown price is much lower than it would be normally .
knockoff
A knockoff is a cheap copy of a well-known product.
knockout
In boxing , a knockout is a situation in which a boxer wins the fight by making his or her opponent fall to the ground and be unable to stand up before the referee has counted to ten .
knock-for-knock agreement
an agreement between vehicle insurers that in the event of an accident each will pay for the damage to the vehicle insured with them without attempting to establish blame for the accident
knock on the head
to daze or kill (a person) by striking on the head
knock-out agreement
an agreement between bidders at an auction or sale not to bid against each other
knock someone bandy
to amaze or astound
genu valgum
a condition in which the legs are bent inwards causing the knees to touch when standing
knockback
A knockback is a problem or a rejection which delays your progress or which reverses some of the progress you have made.
knock-down, drag-out
characterized by great violence , harshness, animosity , etc.
knock one's socks off
to astound or greatly impress someone
knock someone for six
to give someone a surprise or shock which they have difficulty recovering from
knock someone sideways
to make someone feel amazed , confused or very upset
knock something sideways
to severely damage something so that it may not recover
knock them/'em dead
To knock them dead means to impress people a great deal , especially with your appearance.
knock into a cocked hat
to outdo or defeat
knock one's head against
to have a violent or unpleasant encounter with ( adverse facts or circumstances )
knock out of the box
to make so many hits against (an opposing pitcher ) as to cause the pitcher's removal
knock the bottom out of
to destroy or eliminate
touch wood
You can say ' touch wood ' in British English , or ' knock on wood ' in American English, to indicate that you hope to have good luck in something you are doing, usually after saying that you have been lucky with it so far .
knock people's heads together
to force people who are disagreeing to reach an agreement
knock someone off their perch
to cause someone to fail , or damage their status or position
knock something into shape
to use whatever methods are necessary to change or improve something, so that it is in the condition that you want it to be in
knock something on the head
to show that a story or an idea is not true or correct
a knock-down drag-out fight
a very emotional , angry , or even violent argument or fight
Chinese translation of 'knock'
knock
(nɔk)
vt
(= strike) 碰撞 (pèngzhuàng)
(inf, = criticize) 批评(評) (pīpíng)
vi
(on door, window) 敲 (qiāo)
[engine]发(發)出爆震声(聲) (fāchū bàozhènshēng)
[pipes]嘭嘭作响(響) (pēngpēng zuòxiǎng)
n(c)
(= blow, bump) 碰撞 (pèngzhuàng) (下, xià)
(on door) 敲门(門)声(聲) (qiāoménshēng) (声, shēng)
to knock a nail into sth在某处(處)钉(釘)钉(釘)子 (zài mǒuchù dìng dīngzi)
to knock a hole in sth在某处(處)打个(個)洞 (zài mǒuchù dǎ gè dòng)
he knocked the drink out of my hand他碰掉了我手里(裡)的饮(飲)料 (tā pèngdiàole wǒ shǒuli de yǐnliào)
to knock sb to the ground/floor[blow, blast, person]把某人击(擊)倒在地 (bǎ mǒurén jīdǎo zài dì)