knee

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 the joint between the top and bottom parts of the leg where it bends in the middle: a knee injury * I grazed my knee when I fell. * He went down on one knee and asked her to marry him. * She was on her knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. * Everyone was down on (their) hands and knees (= crawling on the floor) looking for the ring. * My knees were knocking (= I was frightened). 2 the part of a piece of clothing that covers the knee: These jeans are torn at the knee. * a knee patch 3 the top surface of the upper part of the legs when you are sitting down: Come and sit on Daddy's knee. IDIOMS bring sb to their knees to defeat sb, especially in a war bring sth to its knees to badly affect an organization, etc. so that it can no longer function: The strikes brought the industry to its knees. put sb over your knee to punish sb by making them lie on top of your knee and hitting their bottom moreatBEE, BENDv., MOTHERn., WEAK verb (kneed, kneed) [VN] to hit or push sb/sth with your knee: He kneed his attacker in the groin.