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knock

/nɑk/

/nɒk/

Other forms: knocked; knocking; knocks

When you knock, you bump or strike someone or something. When you hear a knock at the door, someone on the other side is thumping it with their knuckles.

You can accidentally knock your grandmother's special glass bowl off the table, and you can also knock softly on her door — or tap with your knuckles — before you go in and tell her how sorry you are. If a car engine knocks, it makes a rattling or rapping sound. Colloquially, to knock something is to reject or criticize it, and if you do, you may hear the phrase, "Don't knock it until you try it!"

Definitions of knock
  1. verb
    deliver a sharp blow or push :"He knocked the glass clear across the room"
    synonyms: strike hard
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    type of:
    strike
    deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
  2. verb
    knock against with force or violence
    synonyms: bump
    see moresee less
    type of:
    collide with, hit, impinge on, run into, strike
    hit against; come into sudden contact with
  3. verb
    make light, repeated taps on a surface
    synonyms: pink, rap, tap
    see moresee less
    type of:
    go, sound
    make a certain noise or sound
  4. verb
    rap with the knuckles
    knock on the door”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    knap, rap
    strike sharply
  5. verb
    sound like a car engine that is firing too early
    synonyms: ping, pink
    see moresee less
    type of:
    go, sound
    make a certain noise or sound
  6. noun
    the act of hitting vigorously
    synonyms: belt, rap, whack, whang
    see moresee less
    type of:
    blow, buffet
    a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
  7. noun
    a vigorous blow
    “the sudden knock floored him”
    synonyms: bang, bash, belt, smash
    see moresee less
    type of:
    blow, bump
    an impact (as from a collision)
  8. noun
    the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
    synonyms: knocking
    see moresee less
    type of:
    sound
    the sudden occurrence of an audible event
  9. verb
    find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
    “Don't knock the food--it's free”
    synonyms: criticise, criticize, pick apart
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    praise
    express approval of
    types:
    show 32 types...
    hide 32 types...
    censure, criminate, reprimand
    rebuke formally
    blast, crucify, pillory, savage
    criticize harshly or violently
    admonish, 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, reproof, scathe, scold, take to task, trounce, vituperate
    censure severely or angrily
    reprehend
    express strong disapproval of
    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
    castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, objurgate
    censure severely
    brush down, tell off
    reprimand
    animadvert
    express blame or censure or make a harshly critical remark
    fulminate, rail
    criticize severely
    abuse, blackguard, clapperclaw, shout
    use foul or abusive language towards
    claw
    attack as if with claws
    pan, tear apart, trash
    express a totally negative opinion of
    discredit, disgrace
    damage the reputation of
    deprecate, depreciate, vilipend
    belittle
    vitriol
    subject to bitter verbal abuse
    rip
    criticize or abuse strongly and violently
    whang
    attack forcefully
    barrage, bombard
    address continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage
    blister, scald, whip
    subject to harsh criticism
    condemn, decry, excoriate, objurgate, reprobate
    express strong disapproval of
    belittle, denigrate, derogate, minimize
    cause to seem less serious; play down
    accurse, anathematise, anathematize, anathemise, anathemize, comminate, execrate
    curse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment
    rubbish
    attack strongly
    type of:
    comment, notice, point out, remark
    make or write a comment on
  10. noun
    negative criticism
    synonyms: roast
    see moresee less
    type of:
    criticism, critique
    a serious examination and judgment of something
  11. noun
    a bad experience
    “the school of hard knocks
    see moresee less
    type of:
    bad luck, misfortune
    unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
Pronunciation
US

/nɑk/

UK

/nɒk/

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