K Flashcards
keen
keen [kiːn] adjective [keener keenest] EAGER 1. < > very interested, eager or wanting (to do) something very much • They were very keen to start work as soon as possible. • Joan wanted to go to a movie but I wasn’t keen (= I didn’t want to go) . • She’s a keen tennis player • She’s keen on (playing) tennis. • UK My son’s mad keen on cycling. • He’s rather keen on a girl in his school (= he is very attracted to her) . Thesaurus+: ↑Ready and willing ↑Unwilling and reluctant ↑Excited, interested and enthusiastic • Prince Charles is a keen polo player. • They’ve been keen walkers ever since they read about the benefits of exercise. • Doctors are short of time to listen and are therefore keen to dish out drugs whenever they can. • “What did he think of your suggestion?” “I don’t think he was too keen.” • With an election approaching, the prime minister is keen to maintain his popularity. STRONG 2. extreme or very strong • Many people are taking a keen interest (= a very great interest) in the result of the vote. Thesaurus+: ↑Having a powerful effect ↑Strong feelings ↑Very and extreme 3. very good or well developed • a keen sense of smell Thesaurus+: ↑Extremely good SHARP 4. literary very sharp • a keen north wind Thesaurus+: ↑Sharp and blunt Idiom: keen as mustard Derived: keenly verb intransitive literary to make a loud, long, sad sound, especially because someone has died Thesaurus+: ↑Sounds made by humans with their mouths ↑Remembering people who have died
kite
kite [kaɪt] noun countable [kites] FLYING OBJECT 1. an object consisting of a frame covered with plastic, paper or cloth that is flown in the air at the end of a long string, especially for pleasure • to fly a kite Thesaurus+: ↑Miscellaneous games and activities BIRD 2. a large bird that kills and eats small animals
knit
knit [nɪt] verb [knitting knitted knits] MAKE CLOTHES 1. < > intransitive or transitive [knitting], [knitted] or [knit], [knitted] or [knit] to make clothes, etc. by using two long needles to connect wool or another type of thread into joined rows • She’s forever knitting. • She’s busy knitting baby clothes. • + two objects My granny knitted me some gloves/knitted some gloves for me. See also knitwear Thesaurus+: ↑Knitting and sewing 2. transitive [knitting], [knitted] or [knit], [knitted] or [knit] specialized to do the most basic type of stitch, when knitting something • Knit one, purl one. Thesaurus+: ↑Knitting and sewing • That’s a groovy hat you’re wearing, did you knit it yourself? • How many balls of wool did you need to knit that sweater? • I knitted Greg a scarf. • I enjoy knitting my own jumpers. • They knitted socks for the soldiers. JOIN 3. intransitive or transitive [knitting], [knit], [knit] to join together • The broken bone should begin to knit (together) in a few days. • The two communities are closely knit by a common faith. Thesaurus+: ↑Connecting and combining ↑Variety and mixtures ↑Mixing and mixtures 4. closely/tightly knit (also close/tight-knit) closely connected • a very close-knit family • a tightly knit community
knot
knot [nɒt] [nɑːt] noun countable [knots] FASTENING 1. < > a join made by tying together the ends of a piece or pieces of string, rope, cloth, etc • to tie a knot Thesaurus+: ↑Fastening and tying • She tied the ribbon tightly in a knot. • I can’t untie the knot - it’s too tight. • After several attempts to untie the knot, I admitted defeat and cut through it with a knife. • Can you tie a knot in this piece of string? • The rope was full of knots. MASS 2. a tight mass, for example of hair or string • Alice’s hair is always full of knots and tangles. Thesaurus+: ↑Fastening and tying GROUP 3. a small group of people standing close together • Knots of anxious people stood waiting in the hall. Thesaurus+: ↑Groups of people WOOD 4. a small hard area on a tree or piece of wood where a branch was joined to the tree Thesaurus+: ↑Parts of plants MEASUREMENT 5. specialized a measure of the speed of ships, aircraft or movements of water and air. One knot is approximately 1.85 kilometres per hour • a top speed of about 20 knots. Thesaurus+: ↑Sailing and boating ↑Measurements of speed Idiom: in knots verb [-tt-] FASTEN 1. transitive to tie in or with a knot • He caught the rope and knotted it around a post. Thesaurus+: ↑Fastening and tying FORM MASS 2. intransitive to form a tight, hard, rounded mass • His muscles knotted (= swelled) with the strain.
