knee

[ nee ]

noun

1. Anatomy. the joint of the leg that allows for movement between the femur and tibia and is protected by the patella; the central area of the leg between the thigh and the lower leg.
2. Zoology. the corresponding joint or region in the hind leg of a quadruped; stifle.
3. a joint or region likened to this but not anatomically homologous with it, as the tarsal joint of a bird, the carpal joint in the forelimb of the horse or cow, etc.
4. the part of a garment covering the knee.
5. something resembling a bent knee, especially a rigid or braced angle between two framing members.
6. Also called hip, shoulder. Furniture. the inward curve toward the top of a cabriole leg.
7. Building Trades.
   1. the junction of the top and either of the uprights of a bent.
   2. a curved member for reinforcing the junction of two pieces meeting at an angle.
8. Also called kneeler. a stone cut to follow a sharp return angle.

verb (used with object)

, kneed, knee·ing.

1. to strike or touch with the knee.
2. to secure (a structure, as a bent) with a knee.

verb (used without object)

, kneed, knee·ing.

1. Obsolete. to go down on the knees; kneel.

knee

/ niː /

noun

1. the joint of the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella Technical namegenu genicular
2. 1. the area surrounding and above this joint
   2. modifier reaching or covering the knee

      knee socks

      knee breeches

3. a corresponding or similar part in other vertebrates
4. the part of a garment that covers the knee
5. the upper surface of a seated person's thigh

   the child sat on her mother's knee

6. anything resembling a knee in action, such as a device pivoted to allow one member angular movement in relation to another
7. anything resembling a knee in shape, such as an angular bend in a pipe
8. any of the hollow rounded protuberances that project upwards from the roots of the swamp cypress: thought to aid respiration in waterlogged soil
9. bend the knee or bow the knee
   to kneel or submit
10. bring someone to his knees
    to force someone into submission
11. bring something to its knees
    to cause something to be in a weakened or impoverished state

verb

1. tr to strike, nudge, or push with the knee

Word History and Origins

Origin of knee¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English kne, cne, knei, cneo, Old English cnēo(w); cognate with German Knie, Dutch knie, Old Norse knē, Gothic kniu, Latin genu, Greek góny, Sanskrit jānu, Hittite genu, all meaning “knee”

Word History and Origins

Origin of knee¹

Old English cnēow; compare Old High German kneo, Old Norse knē, Latin genu

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bring someone to his / her knees, to force someone into submission or compliance.
2. cut (someone) off at the knees, to squelch or humiliate (a person) suddenly and thoroughly:

   The speaker cut the heckler off at the knees.

3. on one's / its knees,
   1. in a supplicatory position or manner:

      I came to him on my knees for the money.

   2. in a desperate or declining condition:

      The country's economy is on its knees.

4. take a knee, to kneel on one knee, usually with the opposite leg also bent at a 90-degree angle and placed forward with the foot on the ground, as in sports or as a posture in protests and demonstrations: Organizers are coordinating so the crowds at every state capitol will take a knee in protest of racial injustice simultaneously, across time zones.

   Our soccer team would take a knee if a player on either team was injured.

   Organizers are coordinating so the crowds at every state capitol will take a knee in protest of racial injustice simultaneously, across time zones.

More idioms and phrases containing knee

In addition to the idiom beginning with knee , also see bring to one's knees ; on bended knee .

Example Sentences

Instead, the team took MRI scans of patients’ knees and simulated the process of what a faster imaging process would have created by stripping some of the raw data out, and then used AI to knit that data into a complete picture.

From Popular-Science

For coach Brad Stevens, the answer should be found by turning him loose in a simple sequence that has brought opponents to their knees all season.

From FiveThirtyEight

“Again, not outrageous miniskirts—you know, like a couple of inches above her knees, not crazy,” Roberts says.

From Fortune

The proverbial knee, of course, is the one that remained on George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.

From Ozy

Its height extends from a batter’s knees to the middle of his chest.

From Science News For Students

Do you think of power suits for men and knee-covering skirts for women?

From The Daily Beast

It is not a knee-jerk response to a sudden perceived threat.

From The Daily Beast

This whole thing about a black-and-white culture of knee-jerk reactions is reinforced by television.

From The Daily Beast

He started Spinal Solutions in 1999 and launched a firm selling knee and hip implants three years later.

From The Daily Beast

At 15, she developed iliotibial band syndrome, injuring her knee, and had to surrender her dream.

From The Daily Beast

That his friend had withdrawn, was a pledge of his pacific wishes; and, with a lightened countenance, Louis rose from his knee.

From Project Gutenberg

To drop on one knee and level his piece was the work of an instant, but unfortunately he snapped a dry twig in doing so.

From Project Gutenberg

Her left knee was supported on pillows, and the bed-clothes were raised away from it, for it could tolerate no weight whatever.

From Project Gutenberg

With a low moan her head sunk upon the old man's knee, and she shook and trembled with violent emotion.

From Project Gutenberg

As the expression, "every knee shall bow to me," cannot be confined to that alone, so neither can that which immediately follows.

From Project Gutenberg