knob

American  

[nob] / nɒb /

noun

1. a projecting part, usually rounded, forming the handle of a door, drawer, or the like.

2. a rounded lump or protuberance on the surface or at the end of something, as a knot on a tree trunk.

3. Architecture. an ornamental boss, as of carved work.

4. a rounded hill, mountain, or elevation on a ridge.

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verb (used with object)

knobbed, knobbing

1. to produce a knob on.

2. to furnish with a knob.

3. (in stone cutting) to knock off (excess stone) preparatory to dressing; knobble; skiffle.

knob British  

/ nɒb /

noun

1. a rounded projection from a surface, such as a lump on a tree trunk

2. a handle of a door, drawer, etc, esp one that is rounded

3. a round hill or knoll or morainic ridge

4. taboo a slang word for penis

5. informal the same to you but even more so

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verb

1. (tr) to supply or ornament with knobs

2. (intr) to form into a knob; bulge

3. taboo to have sexual intercourse with (someone)

knob Scientific  

/ nŏb /

1. A prominent, rounded hill or mountain.

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Other Word Forms

• knobby adjective
• knoblike adjective

Etymology

Origin of knob

1350–1400; Middle English knobbe < Middle Low German

Example Sentences

Now, many hitters hold the bat with their bottom hand completely wrapped around the knob, sometimes with their pinkie off the bat entirely.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a separate pan, warm olive oil with a small knob of butter, then bloom Old Bay and Tony Chachere’s.

From Salon

Lisa-Marie Anne fiddles with the knob until she lands on a classical station.

From Literature

He knew he could walk to the TV, and he could reach the knobs and turn it on— loud —whenever he wanted.

From Literature

“A roiling, dark column pumped and convected up as a high cloud looking like dirty cauliflower but every knob moving,” he remembered.

From Literature

Related Words

• doorknob
• latch
• lever