Topic: HUMAN
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | cneow |
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knee1 S2 W2
[countable]
[countable]1HBH the joint that bends in the middle of your leg : 
Lucy had a bandage round her knee.a knee injury
Lucy had a bandage round her knee. sink/fall/drop to your knees (=move so that you are kneeling) Tim fell to his knees and started to pray.
Tim fell to his knees and started to pray.a knee injury2DC the part of your clothes that covers your knee : His jeans had holes in both knees.
His jeans had holes in both knees.3 on the top part of your legs when you are sitting down : Daddy, can I sit on your knee?
on somebody's knee
HBHDaddy, can I sit on your knee?5 in a way that shows you have no power but want or need something very much : He went on his knees begging for his job back.
on your knees
He went on his knees begging for his job back.6
bring somebody/something to their knees
a) to defeat a country or group of people in a war : The bombing was supposed to bring the country to its knees.
The bombing was supposed to bring the country to its knees.b) to have such a bad effect on an organization, activity etc that it cannot continue [= cripple]: The recession has brought many companies to their knees.
The recession has brought many companies to their knees.