Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Middle Low German
Origin: knobbe

knob

 noun
     
Related topics: Daily Life
knob [countable]
1D a round handle or thing that you turn to open a door, turn on a television etc:
He thought the door was locked, but he turned the knob and the door opened.
a brass door knob
I adjusted the volume knob and sat down.
2

a knob of something

a small piece of something [= lump]:
Melt a knob of butter in the pan.
3 British English spoken not polite a penis
4

with (brass) knobs on

British English spoken old-fashioned used especially by children to reply to an insult:
'You're fat and lazy.' 'Fat and lazy to you with brass knobs on!'
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary