Gordian knot

/ (ˈɡɔːdɪən) /

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noun

(in Greek legend) a complicated knot, tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, that Alexander the Great cut with a sword

a complicated and intricate problem (esp in the phrase cut the Gordian knot)

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Words nearby Gordian knot

gorbelly, gorblimey, Gorchakov, gorcock, Gordian, Gordian knot, gordian worm, Gordimer, Gordon, Gordon setter, Gordy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

How to use Gordian knot in a sentence

There is something irrevocable-feeling about couples tying the knot on the steps of the county courthouse.
Gay Marriage Chaos Begins|Jay Michaelson|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every day before leaving home, Sara stands before the mirror and tightens the knot on her scarf.
Acid Attacks on Women Spread Terror in Iran|IranWire|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most famous people in the world tied the knot secretly over the weekend.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Got Married and We’re Worried About Jennifer Aniston|Kevin Fallon, Tim Teeman|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The moment he was finally able to loop a knot by himself was a milestone, his first step to becoming a man.
Miami’s Chris Bosh Goes High Fashion|Justin Jones|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Star-studded guests arrived in fancy cars, and music and cheers rose above the castle walls as Kimye tied the knot.
Eavesdropping On Kim and Kanye’s Florentine “Wedding of the Century”|Barbie Latza Nadeau|May 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the head they insert a bamboo knot, with its point well sharpened into two edges.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
This is called the "Investiture of the Top-knot," and is always attended by solemn ceremonies.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
In accordance with that statement, he had decided that on the next day his son should be formally "invested" with the top-knot.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
He went down the road, collected his little knot of listeners, and began the Song of the Girl.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
I asked sharply, and MacRae flung the same query over one shoulder as he fumbled at the tight-drawn latigo-knot.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

Cultural definitions for Gordian knot

Gordian knot

A complex knot tied by a Greek king. According to legend, whoever loosed it would rule all Asia. Alexander the Great, according to some accounts, undid the Gordian knot by cutting through it with his sword.

notes for Gordian knot

By extension, to “cut the Gordian knot” is to solve quickly any very complex problem or to get to the heart of a problem.