Definition

Noun: - The hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella: This is the anatomical structure, commonly called the knee, which allows the leg to bend and straighten. It is a complex joint where the thigh bone (femur) meets the shin bones (tibia and fibula), with the kneecap (patella) covering and protecting the front.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He injured his human knee while playing soccer.
  • The anatomy textbook had a detailed diagram of the human knee joint.
  • The surgeon specializes in reconstructive surgery of the human knee.

Advanced Usage

• "to be on one's knees": to be in a kneeling position, often indicating submission, prayer, or exhaustion.
  • After the long hike, he was on his knees from fatigue.
• "to bring someone to their knees": to defeat or subdue someone completely.
  • The economic crisis brought the nation to its knees.

Variants and Related Words

• Knee (n): The common, non-technical term for the human knee joint.
  • She scraped her knee when she fell.
• Kneecap (n): The patella; the bone that covers the front of the knee joint.
  • A direct blow can fracture the kneecap.
• Knee-jerk (adj): Describing an automatic and unthinking reaction.
  • His knee-jerk response was to say no without considering the proposal.

Synonyms

• Knee joint: A more formal synonym emphasizing the anatomical structure.
• Genu (n): The technical medical term for the knee, used primarily in clinical contexts (e.g., for "knock-knee").

Related Phrases

• Knee-deep in something: deeply involved in or covered by something.
  • The project was behind schedule, and the team was knee-deep in problems.
• Take a knee: To kneel on one knee, often as a sign of respect, protest, or to rest.
  • The quarterback took a knee to run out the clock.

Related Idioms

• Weak at the knees: Feeling physically weak due to strong emotion like fear or attraction.
  • His romantic gesture left her weak at the knees.
• The bee's knees: An old-fashioned idiom meaning something is excellent or of high quality.
  • He thinks his new car is the bee's knees.

Noun

1. hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella