I. nod 1 W2 /nɒd $ nɑːd/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle nodded , present participle nodding ) [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Perhaps from Low German ]
1 . to move your head up and down, especially in order to show agreement or understanding ⇨ shake :
I asked her if she was ready to go, and she nodded.
Mom nodded her head sympathetically.
nod your approval/agreement etc (=show your approval etc by nodding)
Corbett nodded his acceptance.
2 . to move your head down and up again once in order to greet someone or give someone a sign to do something
nod at
The judge nodded at the foreman to proceed.
nod to
She nodded to us as she walked by.
3 . have a nodding acquaintance (with something) to know a little about a subject but not a lot:
Students will need to have a nodding acquaintance with Spanish.
4 . have a nodding acquaintance (with somebody) ( also be on nodding terms (with somebody) British English ) to know someone but not very well
nod off phrasal verb
to begin to sleep, usually when you do not intend to and are sitting somewhere:
I missed the movie because I kept nodding off.
II. nod 2 BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] an act of nodding:
The woman greeted us with a nod of the head.
I showed the doorman my card and he gave a friendly nod.
2 . give somebody the nod/get the nod from somebody informal to give or be given permission to do something:
We’re waiting for the boss to give us the nod on this one.
3 . on the nod British English informal by general agreement and without people discussing it:
The chairman’s proposals are usually passed on the nod.
4 . a nod’s as good as a wink British English used to tell someone that you have understood something, although it was said in an indirect way
⇨ the land of nod at ↑ land 1 (9)