Search Chambers
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
knock verb (knocked, knocking) 1 intrans to tap or rap with the knuckles or some object, especially on a door for admittance. 2 to strike and so push someone or something, especially accidentally. 3 to put someone or something into a specified condition by hitting them or it • knocked him senseless. 4 to make by striking • knocked a hole in the boat. 5 tr & intr (usually knock against or on or into something or someone) to strike, bump or bang against it or them. 6 colloq to find fault with or criticize someone or something, especially unfairly. 7 intrans said of an internal combustion engine: to make a metallic knocking sound caused by the explosion of an unburned mixture of fuel vapour and air before it is ignited by the spark. Also called pink. 8 intrans said of machinery: to rattle or clank with a regular rhythm (sometimes a symptom of wear). 9 coarse slang to have sexual intercourse with someone. noun 1 an act of knocking. 2 a tap or rap. 3 a push or shove. 4 colloq a personal misfortune, blow, setback, calamity, etc. 5 in an internal combustion engine: a metallic knocking sound caused by the explosion of an unburned mixture of fuel vapour and air before it is ignited by the spark. 6 the sound of knocking in machinery. 7 colloq a criticism. knock someone into the middle of next week colloq 1 to hit them extremely hard. 2 to surprise them. knock something on the head colloq to put an end to it in a firm or definite manner.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon cnucian.
knock about or around colloq 1 to wander about (a place) in a casual and aimless way; to lie about unused; to be idle • knocking about the streets. 2 to travel about, roughing it and having varied experiences • knocked about Europe for the summer. knock someone about or around colloq to treat them roughly; to hit or batter them. knock about with someone colloq to associate or go about with them. knock someone back 1 colloq to cost them (a specified amount) • knocked me back 500 quid. 2 to surprise, dismay, or disappoint them. 3 to rebuff or reject them; to turn them down. knock something back colloq to eat or drink it quickly and with relish. knock someone down to strike them to the ground • knocked down by a car. knock something down 1 to demolish (a building). 2 colloq to reduce its price • knocked these down to a fiver each. knock something down to someone colloq to sell (goods) to them at auction. knock into someone to meet them by chance or unexpectedly. knock into someone or something to collide with them. knock something into someone colloq to teach it to them forcefully • needs to have some sense knocked into him. knock off colloq to finish work • We knock off at 5pm. knock someone off 1 slang to kill them. 2 coarse slang to have sexual intercourse with them. knock something off 1 colloq to produce it or them at speed or in quick succession, apparently quite easily • knocks off several books a year. 2 colloq to deduct (a certain amount) • knocked off £15 for a quick sale. 3 slang to rob or steal it • He knocked off 10 grand • They knocked off a bank. 4 slang to copy and distribute illegally • caught knocking off videos and computer games. 5 colloq often in commands: to stop it • Knock it off! knock on rugby to commit the foul of pushing the ball forward with the hand. See also knock-on. knock someone out 1 to make them unconscious, especially by hitting them. 2 boxing to make them unconscious or render them incapable of rising in the required time. 3 to defeat them in a knockout competition. 4 colloq to amaze them; to impress them greatly. See also knockout. knock someone or something over to collide with them or it, usually accidentally, causing them or it to fall • I'm so sorry, but I've knocked over the vase of flowers. knock something out 1 to dislodge it by a blow. 2 colloq to make it stop functioning; to damage or destroy it. 3 colloq to produce something, especially if done quickly or roughly. knock someone sideways colloq to come as a severe shock to them; to devastate or disconcert them • Her death knocked him sideways. knock something together colloq to make it hurriedly. knock up tennis to exchange practice shots with one's opponent before a match. knock someone up 1 to wake them by knocking. 2 colloq to exhaust them. 3 coarse slang to make them pregnant. knock something up 1 colloq to make it hurriedly. 2 cricket to score (a number of runs). |
knock verb (knocked, knocking) 1 intrans to tap or rap with the knuckles or some object, especially on a door for admittance. 2 to strike and so push someone or something, especially accidentally. 3 to put someone or something into a specified condition by hitting them or it • knocked him senseless. 4 to make by striking • knocked a hole in the boat. 5 tr & intr (usually knock against or on or into something or someone) to strike, bump or bang against it or them. 6 colloq to find fault with or criticize someone or something, especially unfairly. 7 intrans said of an internal combustion engine: to make a metallic knocking sound caused by the explosion of an unburned mixture of fuel vapour and air before it is ignited by the spark. Also called pink. 8 intrans said of machinery: to rattle or clank with a regular rhythm (sometimes a symptom of wear). 9 coarse slang to have sexual intercourse with someone. noun 1 an act of knocking. 2 a tap or rap. 3 a push or shove. 4 colloq a personal misfortune, blow, setback, calamity, etc. 5 in an internal combustion engine: a metallic knocking sound caused by the explosion of an unburned mixture of fuel vapour and air before it is ignited by the spark. 6 the sound of knocking in machinery. 7 colloq a criticism. knock someone into the middle of next week colloq 1 to hit them extremely hard. 2 to surprise them. knock something on the head colloq to put an end to it in a firm or definite manner.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon cnucian.
knock about or around colloq 1 to wander about (a place) in a casual and aimless way; to lie about unused; to be idle • knocking about the streets. 2 to travel about, roughing it and having varied experiences • knocked about Europe for the summer. knock someone about or around colloq to treat them roughly; to hit or batter them. knock about with someone colloq to associate or go about with them. knock someone back 1 colloq to cost them (a specified amount) • knocked me back 500 quid. 2 to surprise, dismay, or disappoint them. 3 to rebuff or reject them; to turn them down. knock something back colloq to eat or drink it quickly and with relish. knock someone down to strike them to the ground • knocked down by a car. knock something down 1 to demolish (a building). 2 colloq to reduce its price • knocked these down to a fiver each. knock something down to someone colloq to sell (goods) to them at auction. knock into someone to meet them by chance or unexpectedly. knock into someone or something to collide with them. knock something into someone colloq to teach it to them forcefully • needs to have some sense knocked into him. knock off colloq to finish work • We knock off at 5pm. knock someone off 1 slang to kill them. 2 coarse slang to have sexual intercourse with them. knock something off 1 colloq to produce it or them at speed or in quick succession, apparently quite easily • knocks off several books a year. 2 colloq to deduct (a certain amount) • knocked off £15 for a quick sale. 3 slang to rob or steal it • He knocked off 10 grand • They knocked off a bank. 4 slang to copy and distribute illegally • caught knocking off videos and computer games. 5 colloq often in commands: to stop it • Knock it off! knock on rugby to commit the foul of pushing the ball forward with the hand. See also knock-on. knock someone out 1 to make them unconscious, especially by hitting them. 2 boxing to make them unconscious or render them incapable of rising in the required time. 3 to defeat them in a knockout competition. 4 colloq to amaze them; to impress them greatly. See also knockout. knock someone or something over to collide with them or it, usually accidentally, causing them or it to fall • I'm so sorry, but I've knocked over the vase of flowers. knock something out 1 to dislodge it by a blow. 2 colloq to make it stop functioning; to damage or destroy it. 3 colloq to produce something, especially if done quickly or roughly. knock someone sideways colloq to come as a severe shock to them; to devastate or disconcert them • Her death knocked him sideways. knock something together colloq to make it hurriedly. knock up tennis to exchange practice shots with one's opponent before a match. knock someone up 1 to wake them by knocking. 2 colloq to exhaust them. 3 coarse slang to make them pregnant. knock something up 1 colloq to make it hurriedly. 2 cricket to score (a number of runs). |
knock verb (knocked, knocking) 1 intrans to tap or rap with the knuckles or some object, especially on a door for admittance. 2 to strike and so push someone or something, especially accidentally. 3 to put someone or something into a specified condition by hitting them or it • knocked him senseless. 4 to make by striking • knocked a hole in the boat. 5 tr & intr (usually knock against or on or into something or someone) to strike, bump or bang against it or them. 6 colloq to find fault with or criticize someone or something, especially unfairly. 7 intrans said of an internal combustion engine: to make a metallic knocking sound caused by the explosion of an unburned mixture of fuel vapour and air before it is ignited by the spark. Also called pink. 8 intrans said of machinery: to rattle or clank with a regular rhythm (sometimes a symptom of wear). 9 coarse slang to have sexual intercourse with someone. noun 1 an act of knocking. 2 a tap or rap. 3 a push or shove. 4 colloq a personal misfortune, blow, setback, calamity, etc. 5 in an internal combustion engine: a metallic knocking sound caused by the explosion of an unburned mixture of fuel vapour and air before it is ignited by the spark. 6 the sound of knocking in machinery. 7 colloq a criticism. knock someone into the middle of next week colloq 1 to hit them extremely hard. 2 to surprise them. knock something on the head colloq to put an end to it in a firm or definite manner.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon cnucian.
knock about or around colloq 1 to wander about (a place) in a casual and aimless way; to lie about unused; to be idle • knocking about the streets. 2 to travel about, roughing it and having varied experiences • knocked about Europe for the summer. knock someone about or around colloq to treat them roughly; to hit or batter them. knock about with someone colloq to associate or go about with them. knock someone back 1 colloq to cost them (a specified amount) • knocked me back 500 quid. 2 to surprise, dismay, or disappoint them. 3 to rebuff or reject them; to turn them down. knock something back colloq to eat or drink it quickly and with relish. knock someone down to strike them to the ground • knocked down by a car. knock something down 1 to demolish (a building). 2 colloq to reduce its price • knocked these down to a fiver each. knock something down to someone colloq to sell (goods) to them at auction. knock into someone to meet them by chance or unexpectedly. knock into someone or something to collide with them. knock something into someone colloq to teach it to them forcefully • needs to have some sense knocked into him. knock off colloq to finish work • We knock off at 5pm. knock someone off 1 slang to kill them. 2 coarse slang to have sexual intercourse with them. knock something off 1 colloq to produce it or them at speed or in quick succession, apparently quite easily • knocks off several books a year. 2 colloq to deduct (a certain amount) • knocked off £15 for a quick sale. 3 slang to rob or steal it • He knocked off 10 grand • They knocked off a bank. 4 slang to copy and distribute illegally • caught knocking off videos and computer games. 5 colloq often in commands: to stop it • Knock it off! knock on rugby to commit the foul of pushing the ball forward with the hand. See also knock-on. knock someone out 1 to make them unconscious, especially by hitting them. 2 boxing to make them unconscious or render them incapable of rising in the required time. 3 to defeat them in a knockout competition. 4 colloq to amaze them; to impress them greatly. See also knockout. knock someone or something over to collide with them or it, usually accidentally, causing them or it to fall • I'm so sorry, but I've knocked over the vase of flowers. knock something out 1 to dislodge it by a blow. 2 colloq to make it stop functioning; to damage or destroy it. 3 colloq to produce something, especially if done quickly or roughly. knock someone sideways colloq to come as a severe shock to them; to devastate or disconcert them • Her death knocked him sideways. knock something together colloq to make it hurriedly. knock up tennis to exchange practice shots with one's opponent before a match. knock someone up 1 to wake them by knocking. 2 colloq to exhaust them. 3 coarse slang to make them pregnant. knock something up 1 colloq to make it hurriedly. 2 cricket to score (a number of runs). |
-
The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
“Chambers is the one I keep at my right hand”- Philip Pullman.
The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
-
The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
“Simply all you need to know about anyone” – Fay Weldon.
Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
Search Tip
A wildcard is a special character you can use to replace one or more characters in a word. There are two types of wildcard. The first is a question mark ?, which matches a single character. The second is an asterisk *, which matches zero or more characters. The two kinds of wildcard can be mixed in a single search.
View More Search Tips