/ nɒd; NAmE nɑːd/ verb , noun
■ verb ( -dd- )
1.
if you nod , nod your head or your head nods , you move your head up and down to show agreement, understanding, etc. :
[ v ]
I asked him if he would help me and he nodded.
Her head nodded in agreement.
[ vn ]
He nodded his head sympathetically.
She nodded approval.
2.
nod (sth) (at / to sb) to move your head down and up once to say hello to sb or to give them a sign to do sth :
[ v ]
The president nodded to the crowd as he passed in the motorcade.
She nodded at him to begin speaking
[ vn ]
to nod a greeting
3.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to move your head in the direction of sb/sth to show that you are talking about them / it :
I asked where Steve was and she nodded in the direction of the kitchen.
4.
[ v ] to let your head fall forward when you are sleeping in a chair :
He sat nodding in front of the fire.
•
IDIOMS
- have a nodding acquaintance with sb/sth
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- nod off
■ noun
a small quick movement of the head down and up again :
to give a nod of approval / agreement / encouragement
•
IDIOMS
- get the nod
- give sb/sth the nod
- a nod and a wink | a nod is as good as a wink
- on the nod
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a verb): perhaps of Low German origin; compare with Middle High German notten move about, shake. The noun dates from the mid 16th cent.