knack|ered /næ kə r d/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that you are knackered , you are emphasizing that you are extremely tired. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I was absolutely knackered at the end of the match.
2 ADJ If you say that something is knackered , you mean that it is completely broken or worn out. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …a knackered old T- shirt .
knap|sack /næ psæk/ (knapsacks ) N‑COUNT A knapsack is a canvas or leather bag that you carry on your back or over your shoulder, for example when you are walking in the countryside.
knave /ne I v/ (knaves )
1 N‑COUNT If someone calls a man a knave , they mean that he is dishonest and should not be trusted. [OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ]
2 N‑COUNT In card games, knave is another word for jack . [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use jack
knead /niː d/ (kneads , kneading , kneaded )
1 VERB When you knead dough or other food, you press and squeeze it with your hands so that it becomes smooth and ready to cook. □ [V n] Lightly knead the mixture on a floured surface.
2 VERB If you knead a part of someone's body, you press or squeeze it with your fingers. □ [V n] She felt him knead the aching muscles.
knee ◆◇◇ /niː / (knees , kneeing , kneed )
1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your knee is the place where your leg bends. □ He will receive physiotherapy on his damaged left knee. □ …a knee injury.
2 N‑COUNT [oft on N ] If something or someone is on your knee or on your knees , they are resting or sitting on the upper part of your legs when you are sitting down. □ He sat with the package on his knees.
3 N‑PLURAL [usu on/to N ] If you are on your knees , your legs are bent and your knees are on the ground. □ She fell to the ground on her knees and prayed.
4 VERB If you knee someone, you hit them using your knee. □ [V n] Ian kneed him in the groin.
5 PHRASE If a country or organization is brought to its knees , it is almost completely destroyed by someone or something. □ The country was being brought to its knees by the loss of 2.4 million manufacturing jobs.
knee|cap /niː kæp/ (kneecaps ) also knee-cap N‑COUNT Your kneecaps are the bones at the front of your knees.
knee -capping (knee-cappings ) also kneecapping N‑VAR Knee-capping is the act of shooting someone in the knee and is carried out by some terrorist organizations as a form of punishment.
knee -dee p
1 ADJ Something that is knee-deep is as high as your knees. □ The water was only knee-deep.
2 ADJ [ADJ after v] If a person or a place is knee-deep in something such as water, the level of the water comes up to a person's knees. □ [+ in ] They spent much of their time knee-deep in mud.
knee -hi gh ADJ Something that is knee-high is as tall or high as an adult's knees.
knee -jerk ADJ [ADJ n] If you call someone's response to a question or situation a knee-jerk reaction, you mean that they react in a very predictable way, without thinking. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The knee-jerk reaction to this is to call for proper security in all hospitals.
kneel /niː l/ (kneels , kneeling , kneeled or knelt ) The forms kneeled and knelt can both be used for the past tense and past participle. VERB When you kneel , you bend your legs so that your knees are touching the ground. □ [V prep/adv] She knelt by the bed and prayed. □ [V ] Other people were kneeling, but she just sat. □ [V -ing] …a kneeling position. ● PHRASAL VERB Kneel down means the same as kneel . □ [V P ] She kneeled down beside him.
knee s-up (knees-ups ) N‑COUNT A knees-up is a party or celebration. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
knelt /ne lt/ Knelt is a past tense and past participle of kneel .
knew /njuː , [AM ] nuː / Knew is the past tense of know .
knick|ers /n I kə r z/ The form knicker is used as a modifier. 1 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Knickers are a piece of underwear worn by women and girls which have holes for the legs and elastic around the waist to hold them up. [BRIT ] □ She bought Ann two bras and six pairs of knickers. in AM, use panties
2 PHRASE If someone is getting their knickers in a twist about something, they are getting annoyed or upset about it without good reason. [BRIT , HUMOROUS , INFORMAL ]
knick-knacks /n I k næks/ in AM, usually use knickknacks N‑PLURAL Knick-knacks are small objects which people keep as ornaments or toys, rather than for a particular use.
knife ◆◇◇ /na I f/ (knives , knifes , knifing , knifed ) knives is the plural form of the noun and knifes is the third person singular of the present tense of the verb. 1 N‑COUNT A knife is a tool for cutting or a weapon and consists of a flat piece of metal with a sharp edge on the end of a handle. □ …a knife and fork. □ Two robbers broke into her home, held a knife to her throat and stole her savings.
2 VERB To knife someone means to attack and injure them with a knife. □ [V n prep] Dawson takes revenge on the man by knifing him to death. [Also V n]
3 N‑COUNT A surgeon's knife is a piece of equipment used to cut flesh and organs during operations. It is made of metal and has a very thin sharp edge. ● PHRASE If you go under the knife , you have an operation in a hospital. □ Kelly was about to go under the knife when her surgeon stopped everything.