knockout

[nok-out]

noun

1. an act or instance of knocking out.

2. the state or fact of being knocked out.

3. a knockout blow.

4. Informal.,  a person or thing overwhelmingly attractive, appealing, or successful.

5. a panel in a casing, can, or box, especially of metal or plastic, so designed that it can readily be removed, as by punching, hammering, or cutting, to provide an opening into the interior.

   a knockout in a junction box.

6. Machinery.,  a device for knocking something loose, as finished work from a lathe chuck.

adjective

1. that knocks out.

   the knockout punch.

knockout

/ ˈnɒkˌaʊt /

noun

1. the act of rendering unconscious

2. a blow that renders an opponent unconscious

3. 1. a competition in which competitors are eliminated progressively

   2. ( as modifier )

      a knockout contest

4. a series of absurd invented games, esp obstacle races, involving physical effort or skill

5. informal,  a person or thing that is overwhelmingly impressive or attractive

   she's a knockout

verb

1. to render unconscious, esp by a blow

2. boxing to defeat (an opponent) by a knockout

3. to destroy, damage, or injure badly

4. to eliminate, esp in a knockout competition

5. informal,  to overwhelm or amaze, esp with admiration or favourable reaction

   I was knocked out by that new song

6. to remove the ashes from (one's pipe) by tapping

Word History and Origins

Origin of knockout¹

1810–20; 1935–40 knockout for def. 4; noun, adj. use of verb phrase knock out

Example Sentences

In the bottom of the third, the team landed a knockout blow.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes, it takes a player of Bonmati's calibre to make the difference in the pivotal moments - and that is what she did, getting the all-important goal in a knockout stage which was otherwise somewhat muted.

From BBC

There was a shift to rugby's traditional hotbeds for the knockout stages, delivering the biggest crowds for the biggest matches.

From BBC

He also scored a treble to eliminate Manchester City in the Champions League knockout play-off round.

From BBC

They had not lost a knockout game in the competition since 1991.

From BBC

Related Words

• technical knockout