knee

[ nee ]

/ ni /

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noun

Anatomy. the joint of the leg that allows for movement between the femur and tibia and is protected by the patella; the central area of the leg between the thigh and the lower leg.

Zoology. the corresponding joint or region in the hind leg of a quadruped; stifle.

a joint or region likened to this but not anatomically homologous with it, as the tarsal joint of a bird, the carpal joint in the forelimb of the horse or cow, etc.

the part of a garment covering the knee.

something resembling a bent knee, especially a rigid or braced angle between two framing members.

Also called hip, shoulder. Furniture. the inward curve toward the top of a cabriole leg.

Building Trades.

the junction of the top and either of the uprights of a bent.
a curved member for reinforcing the junction of two pieces meeting at an angle.

Also called kneeler. a stone cut to follow a sharp return angle.

verb (used with object), kneed, knee·ing.

to strike or touch with the knee.

to secure (a structure, as a bent) with a knee.

verb (used without object), kneed, knee·ing.

Obsolete. to go down on the knees; kneel.

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Idioms about knee

bring someone to his / her knees, to force someone into submission or compliance.

cut (someone) off at the knees, to squelch or humiliate (a person) suddenly and thoroughly: The speaker cut the heckler off at the knees.

on one's / its knees,

in a supplicatory position or manner: I came to him on my knees for the money.
in a desperate or declining condition: The country's economy is on its knees.

take a knee, to kneel on one knee, usually with the opposite leg also bent at a 90-degree angle and placed forward with the foot on the ground, as in sports or as a posture in protests and demonstrations: Our soccer team would take a knee if a player on either team was injured.Organizers are coordinating so the crowds at every state capitol will take a knee in protest of racial injustice simultaneously, across time zones.

Origin of knee

First recorded before 900; Middle English kne, cne, knei, cneo, Old English cnēo(w); cognate with German Knie, Dutch knie, Old Norse knē, Gothic kniu, Latin genu, Greek góny, Sanskrit jānu, Hittite genu, all meaning “knee”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use knee in a sentence

Stryker has what Schoenstein calls a “first-mover advantage” with its robotics-assisted surgical platform, which is used in hip and knee replacements.
The 21 best stocks to buy for 2021|Anne Sraders|November 20, 2020|Fortune
Both had been listed as questionable on the injury report, Carson with a foot injury and Lockett with a knee injury.
Kyler Murray runs out of miracles as Seahawks hang on to take over first place in NFC West|Mark Maske|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
He missed the entire 2019-20 season after tearing a ligament in his left knee during the 2019 NBA Finals.
On quiet night for NBA draft lottery selections, Anthony Edwards goes No. 1 to Timberwolves|Ben Golliver, Des Bieler|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Return to the starting position, making sure your knees don’t creep toward your chest.
Strength Training for Lower-Back Pain|Lauren Bedosky|November 18, 2020|Outside Online

Impact with a second ledge shattered his right knee and left foot, and broke every rib on his right side.
What’s Wrong with Jeb’s Brain?|Daniel Duane|November 18, 2020|Outside Online
The woman who took no nonsense from a cabinet of quivering, jelly-kneed men, some of whom loved her, some of whom loathed her.
How Margaret Thatcher Transformed British Politics|Tunku Varadarajan|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
These statements are neither radical nor weak-kneed, as Republican questions would lead you to believe.
Hagel’s Confirmation Hearings Contentious and Partisan|John Avlon|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As these weak-kneed leaders came under pressure for their practices and products, they turned psychologically inward.
Lousy Marketing—Not Lousy Cars—Killed Detroit|Adam Hanft|November 24, 2008|DAILY BEAST
He wuz right knock-kneed, an' when he walked he walked des like de flo' wuz burnin' his foots.
A Little Union Scout|Joel Chandler Harris
Many a hot argument have we had about Boer and Briton; and I'm afraid he thinks me but a knock-kneed imperialist.
In the Ranks of the C.I.V.|Erskine Childers
Mrs. Tyler issued a statement branding Clarke as a “weak-kneed quitter,” and repudiating him entirely.
The Modern Ku Klux Klan|Henry Peck Fry
The knobs on the trunk of a young pine reminded Franz strongly of knobby-kneed young Hertha Bittner.
Rescue Dog of the High Pass|James Arthur Kjelgaard
I collected a regular hospital of spavined, knock-kneed beasts, and he took them from me without a word at thirty pounds apiece.
Hyacinth|George A. Birmingham

British Dictionary definitions for knee

knee

/ (niː) /

noun

the joint of the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patellaTechnical name: genu Related adjective: genicular

the area surrounding and above this joint
(modifier) reaching or covering the kneeknee breeches; knee socks

a corresponding or similar part in other vertebrates

the part of a garment that covers the knee

the upper surface of a seated person's thighthe child sat on her mother's knee

anything resembling a knee in action, such as a device pivoted to allow one member angular movement in relation to another

anything resembling a knee in shape, such as an angular bend in a pipe

any of the hollow rounded protuberances that project upwards from the roots of the swamp cypress: thought to aid respiration in waterlogged soil

bend the knee or bow the knee to kneel or submit

bring someone to his knees to force someone into submission

bring something to its knees to cause something to be in a weakened or impoverished state

verb knees, kneeing or kneed

(tr) to strike, nudge, or push with the knee

Word Origin for knee

Old English cnēow; compare Old High German kneo, Old Norse knē, Latin genu

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with knee

knee

In addition to the idiom beginning with knee

, also see

bring to one's knees
on bended knee

knee

Idioms about knee

Origin of knee

Words related to knee

How to use knee in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for knee

Word Origin for knee

Other Idioms and Phrases with knee