I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: knock down
1.
a.
(1) : the action of knocking down
a general knockdown of prices — Newsweek
(2) : the condition of being knocked down ; specifically : the condition of a ship (as a sailboat) that is heeling over, listing heavily, or beyond recovery from the impact of wind or water
b.
(1) : a temporary or permanent disordered state that is produced in an insect by an insecticide or other control agent and that is marked by cessation of the insect's normal activity and often followed by the insect's death
(2) : the degree to which an insecticide or other control agent successfully incapacitates or kills insects
(3) : the percentage of a test group of insects that is successfully incapacitated or killed by an insecticide or other control agent — compare kill 1c
2.
a. : a blow that knocks down
watched for the first knockdown in the fight
b. : an overwhelming or crushing blow (as of misfortune) : a severe setback
it was a bad knockdown for both of us — Lucien Price
3. : something (as a piece of furniture) that can easily be assembled or disassembled
4. slang : an introduction to a person
give a guy a knockdown to your girl friends — Jerome Weidman
II. adjective
Etymology: partly from knock down; partly from knockdown (I)
1.
a. : that knocks down or is capable of knocking down
a knockdown jab to the jaw
: having such force or strength as to strike down : prostrating, incapacitating
his schemes have met a knockdown blow — Amy Lowell
the knockdown power of an insecticide
b.
(1) : that cannot be successfully opposed : overwhelming , overpowering
a bewildering assortment of knockdown arguments — J.W.Krutch
would provide an almost knockdown proof — A.G.N.Flew
: crushing
a knockdown defeat
(2) : pushing hindrances or objections relentlessly aside by sheer force or drive : bulldozing
his knockdown style of polemics — W.E.Woodward
: bluntly assured : categorical
he had his knockdown answer for anyone who questioned his qualifications — Van Wyck Brooks
c. : knock-down-and-drag-out
can explode any moment into a knockdown fight — Newsweek
2.
a. : that can easily be put together or taken apart (as for convenience of storing or shipping) : made up of parts that are readily assembled or disassembled
a knockdown piece of furniture
b. : knocked-down
3.
a. : lowest possible : minimum
the auctioneer set the knockdown bid at $5.00
b. : extremely low
can make the trip at knockdown cost
: reduced
bought supplies at knockdown prices