knot

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical

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

n. 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.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

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

n. 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.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine

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

n. 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.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a small group of people standing close together.

n. 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.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to tie something into a knot or to become tangled.

v. 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.”

C1 · Advanced Literary

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

v. 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.”