knees

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of knee.

   The soldiers crawled forward on their elbows and knees.

   Arthritis had stiffened both of her knees over the years.

   Note

   The plural is regular, and it serves every sense of the noun, not just the human joint. A horse's knees are its carpal joints, the equivalent of our wrists. The knees of a garment are the parts that cover them. Knees can also be angled pieces of timber or metal shaped like a bent leg. The same spelling is also the verb's present-tense form.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of knee.

   The wrestler knees his opponent in the ribs to break the hold.

   Whenever the gate sticks, he knees it open and steps through.

   Note

   This form belongs to the verb, which is transitive: he knees his opponent, she knees the gate shut. An archaic use meant to kneel to someone, as a sign of homage. A reflexive use describes moving along on the knees, with the subject working itself forward. A singular subject in front of the word marks it as a verb rather than the plural noun.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2