nod
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Synonyms for nod
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comNod
- the land east of Eden where Cain went to dwell. Gen. 4:16.
- land of Nod.
Related Words for nod
acknowledgment, permission, greeting, salute, bow, respond, acknowledge, greet, bend, signal, acceptance, affirmative, indication, beckon, yes, sign, dip, inclination, concur, acquiesceExamples from the Web for nod
Contemporary Examples of nod
I lie and nod my head yes while wiping the tears on my gray fleece sleeve.
I nod, and he rolls his eyes in the direction of the bathroom.
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 NominationsKevin Fallon
December 10, 2014
We nod our heads towards Pakistan and he is quiet, staring at the floor.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban ValleyMatt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman
November 15, 2014
When he says something, nod; this nodding will induce him to agree with you.
Historical Examples of nod
With a nod and a smile, Aspasia said, "Continue the music, I pray you."
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
Wanhope assented to the question referred to him with a nod.
Quaint CourtshipsVarious
All that saved her now was the nod of the Judge's head—both had the giving of life and death.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
A nod from the water seller told that I had reached the end of the journey.
It Happened in EgyptC. N. Williamson
The man by his nod seemed to show he understood what was afoot.
Casanova's HomecomingArthur Schnitzler
nod
- 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)
- 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
Word Origin and History for 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.
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