knuckle

Pluralknuckles

Formsknuckles, knuckling, knuckled

1. 1
   nouncountable

   One of the bony joints where your fingers bend.

   Like the small hinges in a door, but they let your fingers bend.

   She cracked her knuckles before starting to type.

   He scraped a knuckle on the rough brick wall.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A cut of meat taken from around a joint, such as the leg.

   We slow-cooked a pork knuckle for dinner.

   The butcher sold us a ham knuckle for the soup.

   Similarhock, shank

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A metal guard with points, worn over the fingers to make a punch hurt more.

   He hid a pair of brass knuckles in his jacket pocket.

   The guards were not allowed to carry knuckles or other weapons.

   Note
4. 4
   verbslangtransitive

   To hit someone hard with your fist.

   Stop pushing me or I'll knuckle you.

   He knuckled the troublemaker outside the bar.

   Similarpunch, slug, sock, thump, hit

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To press, rub, or massage something using your knuckles.

   Like pressing your fist into clay to flatten it.

   She knuckled the stiff muscles in his back.

   I knuckle the dough to push out the air.

   Similarknead, rub, massage

   Note
6. 6
   verbfigurativelyintransitive

   To give in and stop fighting against someone or something.

   Like letting go of the rope in a tug-of-war because the other side is too strong.

   After hours of pressure, he finally knuckled and agreed.

   I will not knuckle just because they shout at me.

   Similarsubmit, yield, cave, capitulate, succumb

   Oppositeresist

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   A joint in a machine that lets two parts move or turn.

   Like the joint in a door hinge that lets two parts turn.

   A rusty knuckle kept the metal arm from turning smoothly.

   The mechanic greased the knuckle so the gate would swing again.

   Similarjoint, hinge, pivot

8. 8
   verbintransitive

   To bend or curl your fingers.

   Like curling your fingers to make a fist.

   His fingers knuckled around the cold railing.

   Try to knuckle slowly if your hand feels stiff.

   Similarclench, curl, flex

9. 9
   nouncountable

   The knee joint of a four-legged animal, especially a calf.

   Like the knee on a cow's leg.

   The calf had a swollen knuckle after the fall.

   We examined the knuckle on the horse's hind leg.

   Similarknee

   Note
10. 10
    verbintransitive

    To touch your forehead with your hand to show respect.

    Like tipping a hat to greet someone politely.

    The young groom knuckled to the lord as he passed.

    Workers would knuckle politely when the owner walked by.

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