nəu v. & n. --v. (past
knew;
past part. known) 1 tr. (often foll. by
that, how,
what, etc.) a
have in
the mind; have learnt; be
able to
recall (knows a
lot about cars; knows what to do). b (also absol.) be
aware of (a fact) (he knows I am
waiting; I
think he knows). c have a
good command of (a
subject or language) (knew
German; knows
his tables). 2 tr. be acquainted or
friendly with (a
person or thing). 3 tr. a
recognize;
identify (I knew
him at
once; knew him
for an American). b (foll. by to + infin.) be aware of (a person or thing) as
being or
doing what is specified (knew
them to be rogues). c (foll. by from) be able to
distinguish (one
from another) (did
not know him from Adam). 4 tr. be subject to (her
joy knew no bounds). 5 tr. have
personal experience of (fear etc.). 6 tr. (as
known adj.) a publicly acknowledged (a known
thief; a known fact). b
Math. (of a
quantity etc.) having a
value that can be stated. 7 intr. have
understanding or
knowledge. 8 tr.
archaic have
sexual intercourse with. --n. (in phr. in the know) colloq. well-informed; having
special knowledge. øall
one knows (or knows how) 1
all one can (did all he knew to
stop it). 2 adv. to the
utmost of one's
power (tried all
she knew).
before one knows
where one is with baffling
speed. be not to know 1 have no
way of
learning (wasn't to know they'd
arrive late). 2 be not to be
told (she's not to know about the party). don't I know it! colloq. an
expression of
rueful assent. don't
you know colloq. or joc. an expression used for
emphasis (such a bore, don't you know). for all (or aught) I know so
far as my knowledge extends. have
been known to be known to have
done (they have been known to not
turn up). I knew it! I
was sure that
this would happen. I know what I have a
new idea,
suggestion, etc. know about have
information about. know-all colloq. a person
who seems to know
everything. know
best be or
claim to be better
informed etc.
than others. know better than (foll. by that, or to + infin.) be wise, well-informed, or well-mannered
enough to
avoid (specified
behaviour etc.). know by
name 1 have heard the name
of. 2 be able to
give the name of. know by
sight recognize the
appearance (only) of. know how know the way to do
something. know-how n. 1
practical knowledge;
technique,
expertise. 2
natural skill or
invention. know-it-all = know-all. know-nothing 1 an
ignorant person. 2 an
agnostic. know of be aware of; have heard of (not that I know of). know one's
own mind be
decisive, not
vacillate. know the ropes (or one's stuff) be
fully knowledgeable or
experienced. know a
thing or
two be experienced or
shrewd. know what's what have
adequate knowledge of the
world,
life, etc. know who's who be aware of who or what
each person
is. not if I know it
only against my will. not know that ... colloq. be
fairly sure that ... not (I don't know that I
want to go). not know what
hit one be suddenly
injured, killed, disconcerted, etc. not want to know refuse to
take any notice of. what do you know (or know about that)? colloq. an expression of
surprise. you know colloq. 1 an expression implying something
generally known or known to the hearer (you know, the
pub on the corner). 2 an expression used as a gap-filler in
conversation. you know something (or what)? I am
going to tell you something. you-know-what (or -who) a thing or person
unspecified but
understood. you
never know
nothing in the
future is
certain. øøknowable adj. knower n. [OE (ge)cnawan, rel. to
CAN(1), KEN]