a fastening made by looping a piece of string, rope, or something similar on itself and tightening it, a tangled mass in something such as hair or thread, a unit of speed used for ships, equal to one nautical mile per hour

tie oneself in knots, cut the Gordian knot, at the drop of a hat

tie the knot, in knots, slip knot

Formal and Informal Expressions of knot

In different contexts, you can replace 'knot' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'fastening, ligature' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'tie-up, snarl' is a commonplace synonym.

knot: Explore its Definition & Usage

knot Definition

1a fastening made by looping a piece of string, rope, or something similar on itself and tightening it
2a tangled mass in something such as hair or thread
3a unit of speed used for ships, equal to one nautical mile per hour

Using knot: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "knot" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
She tied a knot in the rope.
Example
The shoelace had come undone and needed to be tied in a knot.
Example
The hairdresser spent an hour trying to untangle the knot in her hair.
Example
The ship was traveling at a speed of 10 knots.

knot Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for knot

Antonyms for knot

Idioms Using knot

tie oneself in knots
to become very confused or anxious about something
Example
I tied myself in knots trying to figure out the answer to the math problem.
cut the Gordian knot
to solve a difficult problem in a quick and decisive manner
Example
The CEO decided to cut the Gordian knot and fire the underperforming employees.
at the drop of a hat
without any hesitation or delay
Example
He would quit his job at the drop of a hat if he got a better offer.

Phrases with knot

tie the knot
to get married
Example
They're finally tying the knot after being together for five years.
in knots
feeling nervous, tense, or anxious
Example
I was in knots waiting for the test results to come back.
slip knot
a knot that can be easily undone by pulling one end
Example
He used a slip knot to tie the rope to the tree.

Origins of knot

from Old English 'cnotta', meaning 'a knot, knob, or protuberance'

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Summary: knot in Brief

The term 'knot' [nɑt] refers to a fastening made by looping a piece of string, rope, or something similar on itself and tightening it. It also denotes a tangled mass in something such as hair or thread, and a unit of speed used for ships. 'Knot' extends into phrases like 'tie the knot,' meaning to get married, and idioms like 'tie oneself in knots,' denoting confusion or anxiety.