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# knuckle

noun (a knuckle, knuckles); verb (knuckle down, knuckle under — phrasal)

«knuckle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. One of the joints of your fingers, especially where the fingers join the hand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#m1)
2. A joint of meat from an animal's leg, as in pork knuckle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#m2)
3. «knuckle down» — to start working hard. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#m3)
4. «knuckle under» — to give in and obey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science and health: the knuckles are joints. In maths: a trick to remember how many days each month has is counting on your knuckles (knuckles = 31 days). In everyday life: crack your knuckles, knock with your knuckles. Phrases: knuckle down, rap on the knuckles (a small telling-off), white knuckles (fear).

### Examples

- He knocked on the door with his knuckles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#x1)
- She grazed her knuckles on the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#x2)
- Time to knuckle down and do your homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#x3)
- Use your knuckles to remember which months have 31 days. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#x4)
- My knuckles went white as I held the rollercoaster bar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#x5)
- He got a rap on the knuckles for being late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/#x6)

### Note

Countable. Silent k: said «nuckle». Myth: cracking knuckles does not cause arthritis; the sound is gas bubbles in the joint. «Knuckle sandwich» is slang for a punch (rough talk).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «knuckle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knuckle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«knuckle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/knuckle.html) on Mova free.