By looping any parts of two elements, we say that we have made a knot. Complex vicissitudes of interpersonal relationships can also be defined by this word. What is a "knot" and what are the features of the formation and use of this concept in various contexts? Consider the questions in order.
Knot: word meaning
Linguists identify up to 6 direct and several more figurative variants of the meaning of a word. In a general sense, a knot is a plexus or connection of something into elements of a single whole. Consider each of the options with examples:
1. Interweaving of long and oblong objects.
Examples:
The similarity of sea and weaving knots allows you to quickly master and apply them in practice.
The rope was tied into a tight knot.
2. An integral part of a complex mechanism (also structures or buildings). Often it performs an independent function.
Examples:
The crew had to check the docking points several times before allowing the building to go into service.
Central telephone exchange servicedaround the clock on duty.
3. Where lines or highways cross.
The presence of several transport hubs in the business part of the city allows you to free the streets from traffic jams during peak hours.
The railway junction is closed for scheduled annual maintenance.
4. The name of the human or animal organs that act as intersection centers in the body.
Examples:
Research on the conduction of nerve ganglions has made it possible to develop several new theories of mental development.
Lymph nodes, along with the liver, are responsible for detoxifying the body.
5. A unit of speed measurement in the field of navigation. A knot is numerically equal to one nautical mile per hour.
Example:
The world's fastest submarine can reach speeds of 44 knots.
6. Items wrapped and tied in soft material.
Example:
After collecting all the belongings in two large bundles, she sat down to wait for a taxi.
7. Intricate and complex relationships/connections. This value is portable.
Example:
The intricate knots of human relationships are a rich source of inspiration for storylines in novels and short stories.
Syntactic and morphological features
What is a "knot" and what is the meaning of this word, was discussed in the examples above. According to its syntactic and morphological properties, it is a noun, inanimate, masculine, 2nd declension. Root: -node-. According to the classification of A. A. Zaliznyak, the word belongs to the type of declension 1b.
Singular number:
Name | knot |
R. | knot |
D. | knot |
V. | knot |
TV. | knot |
Ex. | knot |
Plural:
Name | knots |
R. | knots |
D. | knots |
V. | knots |
TV. | knots |
Ex. | knots |
Synonyms
Wide list of meanings allows you to highlight the same extensive list of synonyms. Among them: a place, a bouquet, a bunch, a knitting, a skein, a sheaf, a pile, a bale, a connection, an organ, a relationship, a part, a loop, a bridge, an intersection, and others. All of them, literally or figuratively, can replace the word "knot" in sentences, the meaning of which will acquire new stylistic shades depending on the chosen variant of the synonym.
Phraseological units and stable combinations
Knowing and using stable and figurative expressions with the word "knot" will help expand vocabulary and facilitate the process of reading fiction. These phrases include the following:
- nervous/lymphatic/energetic;
- rail/transport/telephone/trunk;
- triple/industrial/strong/neat/invisible knot.
It can be tied, tightened, loosened,weaken, cut, disable.
What is a "knot" becomes clear precisely in the context of phrases with characterizing definitions.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the idiom "cut the Gordian knot". This means solving a whole range of problems with one action.
Analyzing the scope of the word, we can note its most frequent use in technical, medical, telecommunications and computing fields. What is a "node" for each of them was discussed above. Often, meanings in different areas of use are connected only by the concept of interweaving of elements.