nod

¹

[nod]

verb (used without object)

nodded, nodding 

1. to make a slight, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command.

2. to let the head fall slightly forward with a sudden, involuntary movement when sleepy.

3. to doze, especially in a sitting position.

   The speaker was so boring that half the audience was nodding.

   Synonyms: drowse

4. to become careless, inattentive, or listless; make an error or mistake through lack of attention.

5. (of trees, flowers, plumes, etc.) to droop, bend, or incline with a swaying motion.

verb (used with object)

nodded, nodding 

1. to bend (the head) in a short, quick downward movement, as of assent or greeting.

2. to express or signify by such a movement of the head.

   to nod approval; to nod agreement.

3. to summon, bring, or send by a nod of the head.

4. to cause (something) to lean or sway; incline.

noun

1. a short, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command, or because of drowsiness.

2. a brief period of sleep; nap.

3. a bending or swaying movement.

4. a gesture or action indicating that someone or something has been approved, selected, recognized, etc..

   The domed ceiling is a nod to traditional library reading rooms.

5. a nomination, as for an office or award: The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.

   It looks like he’s locked up the party’s nod for governor.

   The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.

verb phrase

1. nod out,  to fall asleep, especially owing to the effects of a drug.

2. nod off,  to fall asleep or doze, especially in a sitting position.

   He was reprimanded for nodding off in class.

Nod

²

[nod]

noun

1. (in the Bible) the land east of Eden where Cain went to dwell.

2. land of Nod.

nod

/ nɒd /

verb

1. to lower and raise (the head) briefly, as to indicate agreement, invitation, etc

2. (tr) to express or indicate by nodding

   she nodded approval

3. (tr) to bring or direct by nodding

   she nodded me towards the manager's office

4. (intr) (of flowers, trees, etc) to sway or bend forwards and back

5. (intr) to let the head fall forward through drowsiness; be almost asleep

   the old lady sat nodding by the fire

6. (intr) to be momentarily inattentive or careless

   even Homer sometimes nods

7. a slight, casual, or superficial knowledge (of a subject or a person)

noun

1. a quick down-and-up movement of the head, as in assent, command, etc

   she greeted him with a nod

2. a short sleep; nap See also land of Nod

3. a swaying motion, as of flowers, etc, in the wind

4. informal

   1. agreed, as in a committee meeting, without any formal procedure

   2. (formerly) on credit

5. informal,  boxing the award of a contest to a competitor on the basis of points scored

Other Word Forms

• nodder noun
• noddingly adverb
• unnodding adjective
• nodding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nod¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nodde, of uncertain origin

Origin of nod²

Ultimately from Hebrew Nōdh “wandering”

Word History and Origins

Origin of nod¹

C14 nodde, of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the nod,

   1. British Slang. on credit.

   2. Slang. drowsy following a dose of a narcotic drug.

2. get the nod, to get approval; be selected, recognized, etc.: He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.

   We’ve gotten the nod from the administration to hire two assistant professors.

   He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.

3. give the nod, to give an indication of approval, recognition, etc.: It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.

   The board gave the nod to the new proposal.

   It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.

More idioms and phrases containing nod

• get the nod

Example Sentences

When he was wheeled into a courtroom—though there were no charges against him—“he couldn’t lift his arms, stand, nod his head or speak. . . . His eyes rolled around in his head.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The starting selection in Saturday's 25-7 win over Australia was Borthwick giving a nod to the stars of the successful summer tour to Argentina.

Read more on BBC

Polite nods in both directions were the order of the day.

Read more on BBC

Stillness that is not still—think Martha Graham by way of Irving Penn, with a nod to Rei Kawakubo’s mutating forms.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Nearly four years later, in a nod to Dent’s passing wizardry, Freeny conceded only that the pass was among Dent’s top five.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acknowledge 
• bend 
• bow 
• greet 
• respond 
• salute