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nod

Pronunciation: /nɒd/
Translate nod | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of nod

verb (nods, nodding, nodded)

  • 1 [no object] lower and raise one’s head slightly and briefly, especially in greeting, assent, or understanding, or to give someone a signal:he looked around for support and everyone nodded [with object]:she nodded her head in agreement
  • [with object] signify or express (greeting, assent, or understanding) by nodding:he nodded his consent
  • (nod something through) informal approve something by general agreement, without discussion:the DTI nodded through the bid from Airtours
  • move one’s head up and down repeatedly:he shut his eyes, nodding to the beat figurativefoxgloves nodding by the path
  • 2 [no object] let one’s head fall forward when drowsy or asleep:Anna nodded over her book
  • make a mistake due to a momentary lack of alertness or attention:scientific reason, like Homer, sometimes nods
    [with allusion to Latin dormitat Homerus 'even Homer nods' (Horace Ars Poet. 359)]
  • 3 [with object and adverbial of direction] Soccer head (the ball) without great force: Henry nodded the ball over the line

noun

  • an act of nodding the head:at a nod from his father he left the room
  • (a nod to) a gesture of acknowledgement or concession to:the device is a nod to the conventions of slapstick

Phrases

nodding acquaintance

a slight acquaintance with a person or knowledge of a subject:students will need a nodding acquaintance with three other languages

be on nodding terms

know someone slightly: the two girls are not even on nodding terms with each other

get the nod

  • 1be selected or approved: I think Hooper will get the nod as he’s been playing really well recently
  • 2receive a signal or information: I got the nod that the government were looking for ex-army officers to form a new force

give someone/thing the nod

  • 1select or approve someone or something:they banned one book but gave the other the nod
  • 2give someone a signal: just give me the nod

a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse

proverb used to convey that a hint or suggestion can be or has been understood without the need of further elaboration or explanation: of course, we can’t discuss it over the telephone, but a nod’s as good as a wink, and I promise I’ll be very careful

on the nod

informal
  • 1British by general agreement and without discussion:parliamentary approval of the treaty went through on the nod
  • 2 dated on credit: the bookie took his bet on the nod
  • 3alternating between wakefulness and sleepiness on account of heroin use.

Phrasal Verbs

nod off

informal fall asleep, especially briefly or unintentionally:he nodded off during the sermon

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 century

nod in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of nod in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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