nod

[nod]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nod ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), nod·ded, nod·ding.

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

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

to doze, especially in a sitting position: The speaker was so boring that half the audience was nodding.

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

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

verb (used with object), nod·ded, nod·ding.

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

to express or signify by such a movement of the head: to nod approval; to nod agreement.

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

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

noun

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

a brief period of sleep; nap.

a bending or swaying movement.

Verb Phrases

nod off, to fall asleep or doze, especially in a sitting position: He was reprimanded for nodding off in class.

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

Nearby words

Idioms

give the nod to, Informal. to express approval of; agree to: The board gave the nod to the new proposal.

on the nod,

British Slang.on credit.
Slang.drowsy following a dose of a narcotic drug.

Origin of nod

1350–1400; Middle English nodde, of uncertain origin

SYNONYMS FOR nod

3. drowse.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nod ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsnod·der, nounnod·ding·ly, adverbun·nod·ding, adjective

Nod

[nod]

noun

the land east of Eden where Cain went to dwell. Gen. 4:16.

land of Nod.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nod

I lie and nod my head yes while wiping the tears on my gray fleece sleeve.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I nod, and he rolls his eyes in the direction of the bathroom.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She set a career nominations record with her 21st nod—all in the TV fields—for Best Actress in a Comedy for Nurse Jackie.
Jennifer Aniston, Oscar Nominee? 5 Takeaways from the 2015 SAG Award Nominations|Kevin Fallon|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We nod our heads towards Pakistan and he is quiet, staring at the floor.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When he says something, nod; this nodding will induce him to agree with you.
Russia’s Gold Digger Academy|Peter Pomerantsev|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Robert always saluted the mate, and Haley responded by a nod, or a cool good-morning, but did not indulge in any conversation.
Brave and Bold|Horatio Alger
But England was then inclined to take its religion from the nod of a capricious tyrant.
Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries, Vol. 1|Henry Hallam
To Fred he only vouchsafed a nod, to show that he had heard what Fred had waylaid him to say.
Moth and Rust|Mary Cholmondeley
Mr. Vincent stood up with a nod and leaned himself against the mantelpiece, looking down at the rather indignant young man.
The Necromancers|Robert Hugh Benson
The Queen saw me just as they left the palace, and gave me a nod.
Seven Little People and their Friends|Horace Elisha Scudder

British Dictionary definitions for nod

nod

verb nods, nodding or nodded

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

(tr) to express or indicate by noddingshe nodded approval

(tr) to bring or direct by noddingshe nodded me towards the manager's office

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

(intr) to let the head fall forward through drowsiness; be almost asleepthe old lady sat nodding by the fire

(intr) to be momentarily inattentive or carelesseven Homer sometimes nods

nodding acquaintance a slight, casual, or superficial knowledge (of a subject or a person)

noun

a quick down-and-up movement of the head, as in assent, command, etcshe greeted him with a nod

a short sleep; napSee also land of Nod

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

on the nod informal

agreed, as in a committee meeting, without any formal procedure
(formerly) on credit

the nod boxing informal the award of a contest to a competitor on the basis of points scored

Word Origin for nod

C14 nodde, of obscure origin

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

Word Origin and History for nod

nod

"to quickly bow the head," late 14c., of unknown origin, probably an Old English word, but not recorded; perhaps related to Old High German hnoton "to shake," from Proto-Germanic *khnudojanan. Meaning "to drift in and out of consciousness while on drugs" is attested from 1968. Related: Nodded; nodding. A nodding acquaintance (1711) is one you know just well enough to greet with a nod.

nod

mid-15c., from nod (v.). Land of Nod "sleep" is a pun on the biblical place name (Gen. iv:16).

Idioms and Phrases with nod

nod

In addition to the idiom beginning with nod

nodding acquaintance
nod off

also see:

get the nod

nod

verb (used without object), nod·ded, nod·ding.

verb (used with object), nod·ded, nod·ding.

noun

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of nod

Nod

noun

Examples from the Web for nod

nod

verb nods, nodding or nodded

noun

Word Origin for nod

nod

nod

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