¹knee

noun, often attributive \ˈnē\

: the joint that bends at the middle of your leg

: the upper part of your leg when you are sitting

: the part that covers the knee on a pair of pants

Full Definition of KNEE

a : a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella; also : the part of the leg that includes this joint

b (1) : the joint in the hind leg of a four-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee (2) : the carpal joint of the foreleg of a four-footed vertebrate

c : the tarsal joint of a bird

d : the joint between the femur and tibia of an insect

: something resembling the human knee: as

a : a piece of timber naturally or artificially bent for use in supporting structures coming together at an angle (as the deck beams of a ship)

b : a rounded or conical process rising from the roots of various swamp-growing trees <cypress knee>

: the part of a garment covering the knee

: a blow with the bent knee

— kneed \ˈnēd\ adjective

— to one's knees

: into a state of submission or defeat

See knee defined for English-language learners

See knee defined for kids

Origin of KNEE

Middle English, from Old English cnēow; akin to Old High German kneo knee, Latin genu, Greek gony

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with KNEE

b, be, bee, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, fee, flea, flee, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, plea, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tea, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee

²knee

verb

: to hit (a person) with your knee

kneedknee·ing

Full Definition of KNEE

transitive verb

archaic : to bend the knee to

: to strike with the knee

See knee defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of KNEE

before 12th century

KNEE Defined for Kids

knee

noun \ˈnē\

Definition of KNEE for Kids

: the joint or region in which the thigh and lower leg come together

: the part of a garment covering the knee

: ¹lap <She sat on my knee.>

Medical Dictionary

knee

noun \ˈnē\

Medical Definition of KNEE

a : a joint in the middle part of the human leg that is the articulation between the femur, tibia, and patella—called also knee joint b : the part of the leg that includes this joint

a : the joint in the hind leg of a 4-footed vertebrate that corresponds to the human knee b : the carpal joint of the foreleg of a 4-footed vertebrate

—kneed \ˈnēd\ adjective