Definition

1. Noun:
   • The joint between the thigh and the lower leg: The knee is the large, complex joint in the middle of the human leg, connecting the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone), and protected in front by the patella (kneecap).
   • The corresponding joint in a quadruped: The joint in the foreleg or hind leg of a four-legged animal that is analogous to the human knee.
   • The part of a garment covering the knee: The section of a trouser leg or other clothing that is designed to fit over the knee joint.

Usage

• As a noun (anatomical joint):
  • She fell and scraped her knee.
  • The doctor examined the ligaments in his knee.
• As a noun (part of clothing):
  • These jeans have reinforced fabric at the knees.
• As a noun (animal anatomy):
  • The horse injured its front knee.

Advanced Usage

• On one's knees: In a kneeling position, often indicating supplication, prayer, or exhaustion.
  • He was on his knees begging for forgiveness.
• To bring someone to their knees: To defeat or subdue someone completely; to cause someone to surrender.
  • The economic crisis brought the country to its knees.
• The knee of the gods: A state of uncertainty; something that is undecided or in the hands of fate (idiomatic, from "on the knees of the gods").
  • The outcome of the election is still on the knees of the gods.

Variants and Related Words

• Kneecap (noun): The patella; the small, flat, movable bone at the front of the knee joint.
• Kneel (verb): To rest or lower the body on one or both knees.
• Knee-high (adjective): Reaching up to the knees.
  • She wore knee-high boots.

Synonyms

• Joint: (in the anatomical sense) The point of connection between two bones.
• Patella: Specifically the kneecap bone.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Verb Phrases

• To knee (verb): To hit or push with the knee.
  • The soccer player was penalized for kneeing an opponent.

Related Idioms

• Weak at the knees: Feeling physically weak due to strong emotion such as fear, excitement, or attraction.
  • His romantic gesture left her weak at the knees.
• Take a knee: To kneel down on one knee, often as a sign of respect, protest, or to rest.
  • The team took a knee to honor the memory of their coach.

Noun

1. the part of a trouser leg that provides the cloth covering for the knee
2. joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee
3. hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella