Library / English Dictionary

KNOCK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of hitting vigorously

Example:

he gave the table a whack

Synonyms:

belt; knock; rap; whack; whang

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):

blow (a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon)

Derivation:

knock (deliver a sharp blow or push)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Negative criticism

Synonyms:

knock; roast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):

criticism; critique (a serious examination and judgment of something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A bad experience

Example:

the school of hard knocks

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):

bad luck; misfortune (unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

Example:

the knocking grew louder

Synonyms:

knock; knocking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

knock (rap with the knuckles)

knock (sound like a car engine that is firing too early)

knock (make light, repeated taps on a surface)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A vigorous blow

Example:

he got a bang on the head

Synonyms:

bang; bash; belt; knock; smash

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("knock" is a kind of...):

blow; bump (an impact (as from a collision))

Derivation:

knock (deliver a sharp blow or push)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws

Example:

Don't knock the food--it's free

Synonyms:

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):

comment; notice; point out; remark (make or write a comment on)

"Knock" entails doing...:

evaluate; judge; pass judgment (form a critical opinion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "knock"):

censure; criminate; reprimand (rebuke formally)

blast; crucify; pillory; savage (criticize harshly or violently)

admonish; reproof; reprove (take to task)

bawl out; berate; call down; call on the carpet; chew out; chew up; chide; dress down; have words; jaw; lambast; lambaste; lecture; rag; rebuke; remonstrate; reprimand; scold; take to task; trounce (censure severely or angrily)

reprehend; deplore (express strong disapproval of)

belabor; belabour (attack verbally with harsh criticism)

come down (criticize or reprimand harshly)

denounce (speak out against)

blame; find fault; pick (harass with constant criticism)

belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)

nitpick (be overly critical; criticize minor details)

assail; assault; attack; lash out; round; snipe (attack in speech or writing)

harsh on (criticize harshly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Deliver a sharp blow or push

Example:

He knocked the glass clear across the room

Synonyms:

knock; strike hard

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):

strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Also:

knock over (cause to overturn from an upright or normal position)

knock out (knock unconscious or senseless)

knock down (knock down with force)

knock cold (knock unconscious or senseless)

Derivation:

knock (a vigorous blow)

knock (the act of hitting vigorously)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Knock against with force or violence

Example:

My car bumped into the tree

Synonyms:

bump; knock

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):

collide with; hit; impinge on; run into; strike (hit against; come into sudden contact with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

knock about (strike against forcefully)

knock against (collide violently with an obstacle)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Rap with the knuckles

Example:

knock on the door

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):

knap; rap (strike sharply)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

knock (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))

knocker (a person who knocks (as seeking to gain admittance))

knocking (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Sound like a car engine that is firing too early

Example:

The car pinked when the ignition was too far retarded

Synonyms:

knock; ping; pink

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

knock; knocking (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))

Sense 6

Meaning:

Make light, repeated taps on a surface

Example:

he was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently

Synonyms:

knock; pink; rap; tap

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "knock" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

knock (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))

Credits

 Context examples: 

One evening, as they were thus sitting comfortably together, someone knocked at the door as if he wished to be let in.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Thereupon the servant knocked in a very guarded manner; the door was opened on the chain; and a voice asked from within, “Is that you, Poole?”

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“No country hawbuck is going to knock out a man with such a record.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Wherever there are knocks going there is Sammy in the heart of it.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My host had shown me which was his bedroom the night before, so I knocked at the door.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"I'm sorry, Joe," he said at noon, when they knocked off for dinner.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

This new moon is not an eclipse, but it could knock a project off the rails, particularly if it is a writing or speaking project.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

So he walked to the Throne Room and knocked at the door.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

If ever there's a knock, Ham (partic'ler a soft knock), arter dark, at your aunt's door, doen't you go nigh it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Up went Jo, and knocked smartly on the door of Laurie's little study.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)