knock

[[t]nɒk[/t]]

v. i.

1) to strike a sounding blow, as in seeking admittance, calling attention, or giving a signal

2) to strike in collision; bump:

to knock into a table[/ex]

3) to make a pounding noise:

The car's engine is knocking badly[/ex]

4) inf Informal. to find fault

5) gam to end a card game, as in gin rummy, by laying down a hand in which those cards not included in sets total less than a specific amount

6) to give a sounding or forcible blow to; hit; strike; beat

7) to drive, force, or render by striking:

to knock a man senseless[/ex]

8) to make by striking a blow or blows:

to knock a hole in the wall[/ex]

9) to strike (a thing) against something else

10) inf Informal. to criticize, esp. in a carping manner

11) phv inf knock around or about

a) to wander, esp. living briefly in one place after another

b) to mistreat; manhandle

12) phv +sts knock back, Slang. to drink (a beverage), esp. quickly and heartily

13) phv knock down

a) to cause to fall by striking

b) to dismantle for ease of handling

c) to lower the price of

d) to sell at auction, as through a blow of the auctioneer's hammer

14) phv knock off

a) to cease an activity, esp. the day's work

b) to cease (work)

c) Informal. to do, produce, or dispose of quickly, hurriedly, or with ease:

to knock off a couple of stories in a day[/ex]

d) sts Slang. to murder

e) to reduce a price by the amount of

f) sts Slang. to disable or defeat

g) Slang. to rob; burglarize

h) to copy or plagiarize

15) phv knock out

a) spo to defeat (an opponent) in a boxing match by striking such a blow that the opponent is unable to rise within the specified time

b) to make unconscious

c) to make tired or exhausted

d) inf Informal. to produce quickly; knock off

e) to damage or destroy:

to knock out the power lines[/ex]

f) Slang. to impress greatly; overwhelm with amazed delight

16) phv knock over

a) to strike (someone or something) from an erect to a prone position

b) to distress; overcome

c) sts Slang. to rob, burglarize, or hijack

17) phv knock together, to make or construct in a hurry or with little attention to detail

18) phv knock up

a) sts Slang. to make pregnant

b) to exhaust; weary; tire

c) +brit. to wake up; rouse

19) an act or instance of knocking

20) the sound of knocking, esp. a rap, as at a door

21) a blow or thump

22) inf Informal. an adverse criticism

23) the noise resulting from faulty combustion or incorrect functioning within an internal-combustion engine

24) spo (in cricket) an inning

•

- knock it off knock one's socks off

Etymology: bef. 1000; ME knokken, knoken (v.), OE cnocian, cnucian; c. MHG knochen, ON knoka to thump, knock knock′less, adj.