ENGLISH
REFERENCE

known

adj. · n.
US //ˈnoʊn// UK //nˈəʊn// known
  1. 1 familiar or recognized (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    familiar to people or easy to recognize.

    familiar, recognized, or established through experience or observation.

    Example

    It is a known fact that smoking is bad for your health.

    Example

    The patient had no known allergies to the medication, so the doctor proceeded with the standard prescription.

  2. 2 famous for something (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    famous or well-regarded for a specific reason.

    widely recognized or famous, often followed by 'as' or 'for'.

    Example

    The city is known for its beautiful parks and old buildings.

    Example

    The author is primarily known for her historical novels, though she has recently experimented with science fiction.

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  1. 3 a fixed value (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Math

    something that is already certain or a value that is already calculated.

    a fact or variable whose value or nature is already determined or established.

    Example

    In this equation, the speed of the car is a known.

    Example

    When solving for the trajectory, we must first isolate the knowns from the variables to simplify the calculation.

Origin

From Middle English knowen, from Old English cnāwen (past participle). Morphologically know + -n.

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