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

For me, the most novel recipes are found in the drinks section, which includes recipes for egg creams, tart shrubs and sweet syrups—nods to the elaborate soda fountains that flourished in the past century.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When forced by Pozzo to dance, Mr. Thornton merely doffs his bowler hat rhythmically a few times in a funny nod to Bob Fosse.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On “Actually Romantic,” listeners point to lyrics like “when the coke’s got you brave” as a nod to Charli’s drug-heavy songs from “brat.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lily and Annabel shared their names with Johnson’s biological daughters, while Angelina and Orlando were a nod to the kind of celebrities she sometimes rubbed shoulders with at charity galas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Still, Aaron Rodgers gets the nod over Dillon Gabriel, plus Pittsburgh is at home.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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