knuckle
noun
knuck·le
| \ ˈnə-kəl
\
\
Definition of knuckle
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: the rounded prominence formed by the ends of the two adjacent bones at a joint
—used especially of those at the joints of the fingers
b
: the joint of a knuckle
2
: a cut of meat consisting of the tarsal or carpal joint with the adjoining flesh
3
: something resembling a knuckle: such as
a(1)
: one of the joining parts of a hinge through which a pin or rivet passes
(2)
: knuckle joint
b
: the meeting of two surfaces at a sharp angle (as in a roof)
c
: a pivotal point
4
knuckles plural
: a set of metal finger rings or guards attached to a transverse piece and worn over the front of the doubled fist for use as a weapon
— called also brass knuckles
knuckle
verb
knuckled;
knuckling\ ˈnə-k(ə-)liŋ
\
\
Definition of knuckle (Entry 2 of 2)
: to place the knuckles on the ground in shooting a marble
: to press or rub with the knuckles
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Other Words from knuckle
Noun
knuckled
\ ˈnə-kəld
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of knuckle in a Sentence
Noun
She rapped her knuckles on the table.Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
But the bare-knuckle, brawling style that the Tea Party brought to American politics, Mr. Brandon added, is still very much intact. — Jeremy W. Peters, New York Times, "The Tea Party Didn’t Get What It Wanted, but It Did Unleash the Politics of Anger," 28 Aug. 2019 But the political climate in the state has recently developed more bite, as evidenced by former GOP Gov. Paul LePage’s bare-knuckle style. — Brian Slodysko, BostonGlobe.com, "Outside money flows into race for Susan Collins’s Senate seat," 21 Aug. 2019 Elected Chavez’s bare-knuckles presidential campaign demonizing Venezuela’s two traditional political parties was well received in a country weary of endemic corruption and economic decline. — Peter Millard, Bloomberg.com, "A Timeline of Venezuela’s Economic Rise and Fall," 16 Feb. 2019 Jackman wrote over an image of a scratch on his knuckle. — Ale Russian, PEOPLE.com, "Hugh Jackman Reignites Funny Wolverine Feud with Ryan Reynolds After Minor Stage Injury," 12 Aug. 2019 One of them was an Oakwood man in a 2009 Chevy Malibu who said the blood on his knuckle was from playing with his dog. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland.com, "Numerous altercations lead to a variety of charges: Orange Police Blotter," 25 July 2019 Pelosi, clearly worried that four extremists were becoming the face of the Democratic party, thus diminishing the likelihood of Democratic success in 2020, had rapped their knuckles in a closed-door session last week. — Mona Charen, National Review, "False Racism Accusations Don’t Excuse the Real Thing," 19 July 2019 Cover loosely with greased plastic and let rise until loaf reaches 1 inch above lip of pan and dough springs back minimally when poked gently with your knuckle, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. — Washington Post, "Next time, don’t buy sandwich bread. Make it at home," 1 July 2019 Punch with your left hand, twisting hand so that your knuckles are up, and palm is down. — Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health.com, "This 30-Day Arms Challenge Will Transform Your Upper Body In Just 4 Weeks," 10 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
But what about snow biking, snowmobiling, and knuckle hucking? — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "The 2019 Winter X Games Starts This Week—Here’s What You Need to Know," 23 Jan. 2019 Griezmann's shot from about 25 yards away knuckled away from Muslera at the last moment and the ball went off his hands and into the goal in the 61st minute. — Pete Grathoff, kansascity, "Uruguay goalie's blunder gifts a goal to France at World Cup," 6 July 2018 State after state punted on the opportunity to become the first to regulate before Wyoming, well, knuckled up. — Josh Peter, USA TODAY, "Fight club: Legalized bare-knuckle boxing may be next big show in ring," 4 June 2018 As if love’s knuckled fist had slipped into a white glove, for five months hardly a cross word passed between us. — Hartford Courant, courant.com, "A Time To Die And Be Reborn: Poems By Priscilla Wear Ellsworth," 19 Apr. 2018 Their relationship began last May with a white-knuckled, jaw-clenching, six-Mississippi handshake in Brussels. — Ashley Parker, courant.com, "'Playful dominance': The touchy-feely relationship between Trump and Macron," 25 Apr. 2018 Also, despite what your grandmother says, there isn't any conclusive evidence on risk of arthritis tied to knuckle cracking. — Ashley May, USA TODAY, "Why do knuckles crack? The answer might be in a mathematical equation," 30 Mar. 2018 So far, Green has said nothing so bare-knuckled, at least in public. — George Russell, Fox News, "Trump Administration moves to get tougher on sexual abuse by humanitarian workers," 9 Mar. 2018 Outside his window, the azure waters of the Pacific knuckled on the white sands of Malibu. — Jeff Stein, Newsweek, "Did 'The Post' Get It Wrong? How the Cover-Up of a Green Beret Murder Led to the Pentagon Papers," 31 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knuckle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for knuckle
knuckle
noun
English Language Learners Definition of knuckle
: any one of the thick, bony parts (called joints) in your fingers
: a piece of meat that includes a joint from the leg of an animal
See the full definition for knuckle in the English Language Learners Dictionary
knuckle
noun
knuck·le
| \ ˈnə-kəl
\
\
Kids Definition of knuckle
: the rounded lump formed by the ends of two bones (as of a finger) where they come together in a joint
knuckle
noun
knuck·le
| \ ˈnək-əl
\
\
Medical Definition of knuckle
1a
: the rounded prominence formed by the ends of the two adjacent bones at a joint
—used especially of those at the joints of the fingers
b
: the joint of a knuckle
2