◙ noun 1. the joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans • （人的）膝关节，膝盖 the corresponding or analogous joint in other animals • （动物的）膝关节 the upper surface of someone's thigh when they are sitting; a person's lap • （人坐下时的）大腿面 »they were eating their suppers on their knees. 他们正坐着以大腿面作餐桌吃晚饭。 the part of a garment covering the knee • （衣物的）膝部，下摆 an angled piece of wood or metal frame used to connect and support the beams and timbers of a wooden ship • （木船上的）肘板，肘材 an abrupt obtuse or approximately right-angled bend in a graph between parts where the slope varies smoothly • 曲线弯曲处 ◙ (knees, kneed, kneeing) 1. [with obj.] hit (someone) with one's knee • 用膝盖撞击 »she kneed him in the groin. 她用膝盖撞击他的裆部。
【IDIOMS】
◘ at one's mother's (或 father's) knee 1. at an early age • 儿时 ◘ bend (或 bow) the (或 one's) knee (to) 1. kneel in submission;submit • 下跪，屈服 ◘ bring someone/thing to their/its knees 1. reduce someone or something to a state of weakness or submission • 迫使某人（或物）屈从 ◘ fall (或 drop，或 sink，等) to one's knees 1. assume a kneeling position • 下跪，跪下 ◘ on bended knee(s) 1. kneeling, especially in entreaty or worship • （尤指乞求或崇拜时）跪着 »did your guy propose on bended knee? 你男朋友是不是跪着求婚的？ ◘ on one's knees 1. in a kneeling position • 跪着 (figurative)on the verge of collapse • [喻] 濒临崩溃 »when they took over, the newspaper was on its knees. 他们接手的时候，报纸已经行将崩溃。 ◘ weak at the knees 1. overcome by a strong feeling, typically desire • 被（强烈感情，尤指欲望）屈服
【语源】
1. Old English cnēow, cnēo, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch knie and German Knie, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin genu and Greek gonu