knead Definition
- 1to press and stretch dough or a similar substance with your hands
- 2to massage or squeeze with the hands
Using knead: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "knead" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Knead the dough for at least five minutes.
Example
She kneaded his shoulders to relieve the tension.
Example
The masseuse kneaded my muscles to loosen them up.
Example
He kneaded the clay into a smooth ball.
knead Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with knead
Example
The boss was always kneading his employees' egos to keep them motivated.
Example
She spent hours kneading the dough into shape before baking it.
to extract information or money from someone through persistent questioning or pressure
Example
The detective kneaded the truth out of the suspect after hours of interrogation.
Origins of knead
from Old English 'cnedan', meaning 'to knead'
Summary: knead in Brief
'Knead' [niːd] is a verb that means to press and stretch dough or a similar substance with your hands, or to massage or squeeze with the hands. It can also be used figuratively, as in 'knead someone's ego,' which means to flatter someone excessively. Other phrases include 'knead something into shape,' meaning to work on something until it is in the desired form or condition, and 'knead something out of someone,' which means to extract information or money from someone through persistent questioning or pressure.