knot1

noun

• 1a fastening made by looping a piece of string, rope, or something similar on itself and tightening it:tie a knot at the end of the cord figurativea complicated knot of racial politics and pride
• a particular method of making a knot:you need to master two knots, the clove hitch and the sheet bend
• an ornamental ribbon.

• 2a tangled mass in something such as hair or wool.

• 3a knob, protuberance, or node in a stem, branch, or root.
• a hard mass formed in a tree trunk at the intersection with a branch, resulting in a round cross-grained piece in timber when cut through.
• a hard lump of tissue in the body.

• 4an unpleasant feeling of tightness or tension in a part of the body:her stomach was in knots as she unlocked the door

• 5a small tightly packed group of people:a knot of spectators was gathering

• 6a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, used especially of ships, aircraft, or winds.
• chiefly historical a length marked by knots on a log line, as a measure of speed: some days the vessel logged 12 knots

verb (knots, knotting, knotted)

• 1fasten with a knot:the scarves were knotted loosely around their throats (as adjective knotted)a knotted rope
• make (a carpet or other decorative item) with knots.

• 2make (something, especially hair) tangled: (as adjective knotted)he brushed through his knotted hair

• 3cause (a muscle) to become tense and hard.
• [no object] (of the stomach) tighten as a result of nervousness or tension.