Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [nok uh-bout]
- /nɒk əˈbaʊt/
- /nɒk əˈbaʊt/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [nok uh-bout]
- /nɒk əˈbaʊt/
Definitions of knock about words
- verb without object knock about to strike a sounding blow with the fist, knuckles, or anything hard, especially on a door, window, or the like, as in seeking admittance, calling attention, or giving a signal: to knock on the door before entering. 1
- verb without object knock about to strike in collision; bump: He knocked into a table. 1
- verb without object knock about to make a pounding noise: The engine of our car is knocking badly. 1
- verb without object knock about Informal. to engage in trivial or carping criticism; find fault. 1
- verb without object knock about Cards. to end a game, as in gin rummy, by laying down a hand in which those cards not included in sets total less than a specific amount. 1
- verb with object knock about to give a sounding or forcible blow to; hit; strike; beat. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of knock about
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; 1890-95 for def 4; Middle English knokken, knoken (v.), Old English cnocian, cnucian; cognate with Old Norse knoka to thump, knock
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Knock about
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
knock about popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
knock about usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for knock about
verb knock about
- drift — a driving movement or force; impulse; impetus; pressure.
- ramble — to wander around in a leisurely, aimless manner: They rambled through the shops until closing time.
- range — the extent to which or the limits between which variation is possible: the range of steel prices; a wide range of styles.
- rove — to wander about without definite destination; move hither and thither at random, especially over a wide area.
- traipse — to walk or go aimlessly or idly or without finding or reaching one's goal: We traipsed all over town looking for a copy of the book.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with k
- Words starting with kn
- Words starting with kno
- Words starting with knoc
- Words starting with knock
- Words starting with knocka
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- Words starting with knockabou
- Words starting with knockabout