knob

From Middle English knobbe, from Middle Low German knobbe (“knob; knot in wood”). Cognate with Dutch knob, knobbel (“knob”), German Knubbe, Knubbel (“knob”). See also knop.

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: nŏb, IPA^(key): /nɒb/
• (US) enPR: nŏb, IPA^(key): /nɑb/

• Audio (UK)

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• Audio (UK)

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• Rhymes: -ɒb
• Homophone: nob

knob (plural knobs)

1. A rounded protuberance, especially one arising from a flat surface; a fleshy lump or caruncle.
2. A rounded control switch that can be turned on its axis, designed to be operated by the fingers.
3. A ball-shaped part of a handle, lever, etc., designed to be grabbed by the hand.
4. A rounded ornament on the hilt of an edged weapon; a pommel.
5. A prominent, rounded bump along a mountain ridge.
6. (geography) A prominent rounded hill.
   • 2011, John Jeremiah Sullivan, Pulphead, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, p. 144:

     We climbed to the top of Slate Hill, the highest knob in our town, and Ricky gave me a whole talk on how slate formed, how it was and was not shale.

7. (plural) (slang) Breasts.
8. (vulgar, slang, chiefly Britain) A penis.
9. (vulgar, slang) The head of the penis; the glans.
10. (slang, derogatory, by analogy with above) A contemptible person.
11. (cooking) A dollop, an amount just larger than a spoonful (usually referring to butter).
12. A chunky branch-like piece, especially of a ginger rhizome.
    • 2001, David Joachim, The Clever Cook's Kitchen Handbook

      Place whole, unpeeled knobs of ginger in a zipper-lock freezer bag for up to 3 months. Slice or break off what you need and return the rest to the freezer.

13. A bulb of the garlic plant consisting of multiple cloves.

• See also Thesaurus:penis

• doorknob
• knob-and-tube
• knobhead

knob (third-person singular simple present knobs, present participle knobbing, simple past and past participle knobbed)

1. (Britain, slang, vulgar, of a man) To have sex with.

• Bonk, bonk

From Middle Low German knōp (“knot”). Compare Dutch knoop and Swedish knop.

• IPA^(key): /knoːb/, [kʰnoːˀb̥]

knob n or c

1. knot (speed on water)
2. knot (looping of a rope)

In the sense speed on water it is common gender; the plural indefinite form is knob; no definite forms. In the sense looping of a rope it is neuter gender.

• knob on the Danish Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^da
• Knob (fart) on the Danish Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^da

knob

1. Alternative form of knobbe