KNEE

[noun] [C] - the middle joint of the leg, which allows it to bendThe baby was crawling around on its hands and knees.He got/went down on his knees (= got into a position where his knees were on the ground) in front of the altar.She took the child and sat it on her knee (= on the part of the leg above the knee when sitting down).The knee of a piece of clothing is the part that covers the knee.She was wearing an old pair of trousers with rips at the knees.If you bring/force someone or something to their knees, you completely defeat or almost destroy them.The coal miners' strike brought the economy to its knees.If you are knee-deep in something, it reaches your knees.We walked through the wood, knee-deep in autumn leaves.(figurative) I'm knee-deep in (= have a lot of) work.Knee-high means tall enough to reach your knees.knee-high grass/boots(informal humorous) Knee-high to a grasshopper means very small or young.My Dad has been taking me to hear jazz ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper!(disapproving) A knee-jerk reaction/opinion is one made or held automatically, as a result of habit, rather than of serious thought.Whenever the crime rate rises, the government's knee-jerk reaction is just to train more police.Something that is knee-length is long enough to reach the knee.knee-length socksThe skirt should be knee-length.(UK informal dated or humorous) A knees-up is an energetic noisy party where people dance. knee [verb] [T]She kneed him (= hit him with her knee) in the groin.