knee

Meaning

Noun

1. In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank.
2. In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in humans.
3. The part of a garment that covers the knee.
4. A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.
5. An act of kneeling, especially to show respect or courtesy.
6. Any knee-shaped item or sharp angle in a line; an inflection point.
7. A blow made with the knee; a kneeing.
8. The presence of a parent etc., where a young child acquires early knowledge.

Verb

1. To kneel to.
2. To poke or strike with the knee.
3. To move on the knees; to use the knees to move.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/niː/

Etymology

From Middle English kne, from Old English cnēow, from Proto-West Germanic *kneu, from Proto-Germanic *knewą, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵnéw-o-m, a thematic derivative of *ǵónu.
See also Low German Knee, Dutch knie, German Knie, Danish knæ, Norwegian kne, Swedish knä; also Hittite 𒄀𒉡 (genu), Latin genū, Tocharian A kanweṃ (dual), Tocharian B kenī, Ancient Greek γόνυ (gónu, “knee”), γωνία (gōnía, “corner, angle”), Welsh glin (“knee”), Old Armenian ծունր (cunr), Avestan 𐬲𐬥𐬎𐬨 (žnum), Sanskrit जानु (jā́nu).
The obsolete plural kneen is from Middle English kneen, knen, kneon, kneuwene.

Sentences

His hip struck the knee of the next player .