knock

Formsknocks, knocking, knocked

Pluralknocks

1. 1
   verbintransitive

   To hit something, usually a door, with your knuckles to make a sound.

   Like tapping on a window to get someone's attention.

   Please knock before you come into my room.

   She knocked gently and waited for an answer.

   Similarrap, tap, bang, pound

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A sudden tapping sound, like something hard hitting wood.

   Like the sound of someone tapping hard on a table.

   A loud knock at the door made everyone jump.

   We heard a knock and went to see who it was.

   Similarrap, tap, bang, thump

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A hard hit or bump against something.

   Like the bump you feel when you bang into a doorframe.

   He got a nasty knock on the head from the low beam.

   The table took a knock and the vase fell over.

   Similarbump, bang, blow, hit

   Note
4. 4
   verbcolloquialtransitive

   To say bad things about someone or something.

   Like saying something is bad before giving it a fair chance.

   Don't knock his cooking until you've tried it.

   Critics knocked the movie for its slow start.

   Similarcriticize, disparage, belittle, pan, slam

   Oppositepraise, laud, commend

   Note
5. 5
   nouncolloquialfigurativelycountable or uncountable

   A negative comment about someone or something.

   Like a small black mark next to an otherwise good report.

   The only knock against him is that he talks too much.

   Her review had one small knock but was mostly kind.

   Similarcriticism, complaint, objection, drawback

   Note
6. 6
   nouncolloquialfigurativelycountable or uncountable

   A bad event that hurts your plans or progress.

   Like a step backward when you were hoping to move forward.

   Losing the contract was a big knock for the small business.

   She took the bad news as just another knock and kept going.

   Similarsetback, blow, hit

   Oppositeboost

   Note
7. 7
   noununcountable

   A banging or rattling sound an engine makes when its fuel burns at the wrong time.

   Like a rattling sound that warns something inside is not working right.

   The old car had a loud knock whenever it climbed a hill.

   You can hear the knock when the engine works too hard.

   Similarpinking, pinging, detonation

   Note
8. 8
   verbslangtransitive

   To have sex with someone.

   He'd brag that he could knock anyone he liked.

   Everyone said he knocked the new barmaid.

   Similarbang, bone, bonk, mount, seduce

   Note
9. 9
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A ball that a batter hits into play, especially one that turns into a hit.

   That knock sent the ball deep into the outfield.

   His knock drove in the winning run.

   Similarhit, shot, stroke

   Note
10. 10
    verbtransitive

    To hit a ball so it goes into play.

    She can knock the ball clear across the field.

    He knocked the ball past the bowler for an easy run.

    Similarhit, strike, push, drive

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