Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

knock

/nɑk/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.35 in modern English

Syllables
knock
IPA
/nɑk/
15
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An abrupt rapping sound, as from an impact of a hard object against wood.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A sharp impact.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A criticism.

Countable; Informal; Uncountable

noun

A blow or setback.

Countable; Informal; Uncountable

noun

Preignition, a type of abnormal combustion occurring in spark ignition engines caused by self-ignition; also, the characteristic knocking sound associated with it.

Uncountable

noun

A batsman's innings.

Countable; Slang; Uncountable

noun

A ball hit into play, especially one that becomes a hit.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Synonym of hunger knock.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *knukô Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *knukōną Proto-West Germanic *knokōn Old English cnocian Middle English knokken English knock From Middle English knokken, from Old English cnocian, ġecnocian, ġecnucian, cnucian (“to knock, pound on, beat”), from Proto-West Germanic *knokōn, from Proto-Germanic *knukōną (“to knock”), a suffixed form of *knu-, *knew- (“to pound on, beat”), from Proto-Indo-European *gnew-, *gen- (“to squeeze, pinch, kink, ball up, concentrate”). The English word is cognate with Middle High German knochen (“to hit”), Old English cnuian, cnuwian (“to pound, knock”), Old Norse knoka (compare Danish knuge (“to squeeze”), Swedish knocka (“to hug”)). More at knuckle.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: knokken, cnocian, *knokōn, *knukōną, *gnew-, cnoc

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /nɑk/
  • British English: /nɒk/

Usage

Inflected Forms

knocks (plural) knocks (present, singular) knocking (participle, present) knocked (participle, past) knocked (past)

Derived Forms

antiknock doorknock knockback knockmeter knockproof knockstone knockdown knocker knockers knockingly knockoff knockout

Phrases

cop knock death knock diesel knock engine knock hard knock job and knock knock-about knock-back

Synonyms

hunger knock knock off Formal terms bed coit coitize dight enjoy feague go in unto go to bed with have

Homonyms

nock

Rhymes With

rock stock block lock shock clock iraq doc cock o'clock dock unlock

Questions

How do you pronounce knock?
The recorded pronunciation is /nɑk/.
What does knock mean?
An abrupt rapping sound, as from an impact of a hard object against wood.
Where does knock come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce knock

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “knock”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/nɑk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “knock”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “knock” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.