knives /na I vz/ Knives is the plural of knife .
knob /nɒ b/ (knobs )
1 N‑COUNT A knob is a round handle on a door or drawer which you use in order to open or close it. □ He turned the knob and pushed against the door.
2 N‑COUNT A knob is a round switch on a piece of machinery or equipment. □ …the volume knob.
3 N‑COUNT A knob of butter is a small amount of it. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] Top the steaming hot potatoes with a knob of butter.
knob|bly /nɒ bli/ or knobby /nɒ bi/ ADJ Something that is knobbly or knobby has lumps on it which stick out and make the surface uneven. □ …knobbly knees.
knock ◆◇◇ /nɒ k/ (knocks , knocking , knocked )
1 VERB If you knock on something such as a door or window, you hit it, usually several times, to attract someone's attention. □ [V + on/at ] She went directly to Simon's apartment and knocked on the door. □ [V ] He knocked before going in. ● N‑COUNT Knock is also a noun. □ [+ at ] They heard a knock at the front door. ● knock|ing N‑SING □ [+ at ] They were wakened by a loud knocking at the door.
2 VERB If you knock something, you touch or hit it roughly, especially so that it falls or moves. □ [V n prep] She accidentally knocked the tea tin off the shelf. □ [V n with adv] Isabel rose so abruptly that she knocked down her chair. [Also V n] ● N‑COUNT Knock is also a noun. □ The bags have tough exterior materials to protect against knocks, rain and dust.
3 VERB If someone knocks two rooms or buildings into one, or knocks them together , they make them form one room or building by removing a wall. □ [V n + into ] They decided to knock the two rooms into one. □ [V n with together ] The spacious kitchen was achieved by knocking together three small rooms.
4 VERB To knock someone into a particular position or condition means to hit them very hard so that they fall over or become unconscious. □ [V n prep/adv] The third wave was so strong it knocked me backwards. □ [V n adj] Someone had knocked him unconscious.
5 VERB [no cont] To knock a particular quality or characteristic that someone has, or to knock it out of them means to make them lose it. □ [V n] Those people hurt me and knocked my confidence. □ [V n + out of ] The stories of his links with the actress had knocked the fun out of him.
6 VERB If you knock something or someone, you criticize them and say unpleasant things about them. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
7 N‑COUNT If someone receives a knock , they have an unpleasant experience which prevents them from achieving something or which causes them to change their attitudes or plans. □ What they said was a real knock to my self-confidence.
8 to knock something on the head → see head
9 to knock someone or something into shape → see shape
▸ knock about → see knock around
▸ knock around in BRIT, also use knock about 1 PHRASAL VERB If someone knocks you around or knocks you about , they hit or kick you several times. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] He lied to me constantly and started knocking me around.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone knocks around or knocks about somewhere, they spend time there, experiencing different situations or just passing time. □ [V P prep/adv] …reporters who knock around in troubled parts of the world. □ [V P n] I know nothing about him except that he knocked about South Africa for a while.
3 PHRASAL VERB [only cont] If someone or something is knocking around or knocking about , they are present in a particular place. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P ] There were a couple of decent kits knocking around, but this wasn't one of them!
4 PHRASAL VERB If you knock around or knock about with someone, you spend your spare time with them, either because you are one of their friends or because you are their boyfriend or girlfriend. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P + with ] I used to knock about with all the lads from round where Mum lives. □ [V P together ] They were knocking around together for about a year.
▸ knock back
1 PHRASAL VERB If you knock back a drink, especially an alcoholic one, you drink it quickly, and often in large amounts. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] He was knocking back his 10th gin and tonic of the day. □ [V n P ] She poured some vodka into a glass and knocked it back in two swallows.
2 PHRASAL VERB If an event, situation, or person knocks you back , they prevent you from progressing or achieving something. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n P ] It seemed as though every time we got rolling something came along to knock us back. □ [V P n] That really knocked back any hope for further peace negotiations.
▸ knock down
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone is knocked down or is knocked over by a vehicle or its driver, they are hit by a car and fall to the ground, and are often injured or killed. □ [be V -ed P ] He died in hospital after being knocked down by a car. □ [V P n] A drunk driver knocked down and killed two girls. □ [V n P ] A car knocked him over.
2 PHRASAL VERB To knock down a building or part of a building means to demolish it. □ [V n P ] Why doesn't he just knock the wall down? □ [V P n] They have since knocked down the shack.