nod

¹

[ nod ]

verb (used without object)

, nod·ded, nod·ding.

1. to make a slight, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command.
2. to let the head fall slightly forward with a sudden, involuntary movement when sleepy.
3. to doze, especially in a sitting position:

   The speaker was so boring that half the audience was nodding.

   Synonyms: drowse

4. to become careless, inattentive, or listless; make an error or mistake through lack of attention.
5. (of trees, flowers, plumes, etc.) to droop, bend, or incline with a swaying motion.

verb (used with object)

, nod·ded, nod·ding.

1. to bend (the head) in a short, quick downward movement, as of assent or greeting.
2. to express or signify by such a movement of the head:

   to nod approval; to nod agreement.

3. to summon, bring, or send by a nod of the head.
4. to cause (something) to lean or sway; incline.

noun

1. a short, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command, or because of drowsiness.
2. a brief period of sleep; nap.
3. a bending or swaying movement.
4. a gesture or action indicating that someone or something has been approved, selected, recognized, etc.:

   The domed ceiling is a nod to traditional library reading rooms.

5. a nomination, as for an office or award: The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.

   It looks like he’s locked up the party’s nod for governor.

   The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.

verb phrase

1. Slang. to fall asleep, especially owing to the effects of a drug.
2. to fall asleep or doze, especially in a sitting position:

   He was reprimanded for nodding off in class.

Nod

²

[ nod ]

noun

1. (in the Bible) the land east of Eden where Cain went to dwell.
2. land of Nod ( def ).

nod

/ nɒd /

verb

1. to lower and raise (the head) briefly, as to indicate agreement, invitation, etc
2. tr to express or indicate by nodding

   she nodded approval

3. tr to bring or direct by nodding

   she nodded me towards the manager's office

4. intr (of flowers, trees, etc) to sway or bend forwards and back
5. intr to let the head fall forward through drowsiness; be almost asleep

   the old lady sat nodding by the fire

6. intr to be momentarily inattentive or careless

   even Homer sometimes nods

7. nodding acquaintance
   a slight, casual, or superficial knowledge (of a subject or a person)

noun

1. a quick down-and-up movement of the head, as in assent, command, etc

   she greeted him with a nod

2. a short sleep; nap See also land of Nod
3. a swaying motion, as of flowers, etc, in the wind
4. on the nod informal.
   1. agreed, as in a committee meeting, without any formal procedure
   2. (formerly) on credit
5. the nod informal.
   boxing the award of a contest to a competitor on the basis of points scored

Derived Forms

• ˈnodding, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• nod·der noun
• nod·ding·ly adverb
• un·nod·ding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nod¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nodde, of uncertain origin

Origin of nod²

Ultimately from Hebrew Nōdh “wandering”

Word History and Origins

Origin of nod¹

C14 nodde, of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get the nod, to get approval; be selected, recognized, etc.: He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.

   We’ve gotten the nod from the administration to hire two assistant professors.

   He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.

2. give the nod, to give an indication of approval, recognition, etc.: It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.

   The board gave the nod to the new proposal.

   It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.

3. on the nod,
   1. British Slang. on credit.
   2. Slang. drowsy following a dose of a narcotic drug.

More idioms and phrases containing nod

In addition to the idiom beginning with nod , also see get the nod .

Example Sentences

In his manifesto, which he titled “The Inconvenient Truth” — a seeming nod to Al Gore’s documentary about the climate crisis — he wrote that “water sheds around the country, especially in agricultural areas, are being depleted.”

From Salon

Livestreams hawking products to LGBTQ+ consumers may still present as queer, such as referring to a male host as “big sister,” or dancing with chrysanthemums in a nod to a Chinese slang term for some gay men.

From Los Angeles Times

It depicts a girl who decides to send a present to a boy who is feeling lonely, a nod to the retailer's toy bank scheme.

From BBC

The acronym is a nod to Musk's favourite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin.

From BBC

He also gave Corinne a nod from the stage: “I want to thank my daughter for telling me just before I got up here, ‘If you don’t win, Dad, you’re still good.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acknowledge
• bend
• bow
• greet
• respond
• salute