# knot

/ˈnɑt/ (US) · /nˈɒt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/knot
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. tied string or rope

noun · CEFR B1

a place where you have tied a piece of string or rope together so it stays firm.

For teachers: an interlacing or looping of a flexible material, such as rope or ribbon, drawn tight to form a fastening.

- He tied a tight knot in the rope to keep the boat from drifting away.
- The climber checked every knot in the safety harness twice before beginning the final ascent up the granite face.

### 2. nautical speed unit

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a unit used to measure how fast a ship or an aircraft is moving.

For teachers: a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, used in maritime and aviation contexts.

- The ship was travelling at twenty knots when it crossed the equator.
- The aircraft maintained a steady speed of four hundred knots despite the significant headwind encountered over the Atlantic.

### 3. lump in wood

noun · CEFR B2

a hard, round, dark spot in a piece of wood where a branch once grew.

For teachers: a hard, cross-grained mass in a piece of timber, marking the point where a branch was joined to the trunk.

- The carpenter had to work carefully around a large knot in the oak plank.
- The rustic aesthetic of the cabin was enhanced by the visible knots and natural imperfections in the pine panelling.

### 4. muscle tension

noun · CEFR B2

a tight, painful feeling in a muscle that feels like a small lump.

For teachers: a localized area of muscle contraction or tension that feels hard to the touch and causes discomfort.

- She had a painful knot in her shoulder after sitting at the computer all day.
- The massage therapist focused on releasing the stubborn knots in the athlete's lower back after the marathon.

### 5. a small group

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a small group of people standing close together.

For teachers: a small, closely gathered group of people or things.

- A small knot of reporters waited outside the courthouse for the verdict.
- A small knot of protesters gathered at the gates, their quiet murmurs contrasting with the heavy silence of the evening.

### 6. to tie together

verb · CEFR B2

to tie something into a knot or to become tangled.

For teachers: to fasten or secure by forming a knot; also used intransitively to describe the process of becoming tangled.

- She knotted the ends of the scarf together to keep it from falling off.
- The thread had knotted so badly during the sewing process that she was forced to cut it and start again.

### 7. stomach/muscles tightening

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

when your stomach or muscles feel tight because you are nervous or angry.

For teachers: to tighten or contract painfully, typically due to emotional stress or physical tension.

- His stomach knotted with fear as he stepped onto the stage to speak.
- Her brow knotted in deep concentration as she attempted to decipher the ancient manuscript's faded script.

## Examples

- I tied a tight knot in my shoelaces.
- The sailor tied a secure knot to keep the boat from drifting away from the dock.
- The climber double-checked the knot in his safety harness, knowing that his life depended on the integrity of the rope's tension.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.