knocking

An act in which something is knocked on, or the sound thus produced

Noun

  1. An act in which something is knocked on, or the sound thus produced
    • These strange openings and closings and knockings were warnings and reminders from the spirits who attend the dying. - 1893, W. B. Yeats, The Celtic Twilight:
    • There was no response to continued knockings. - 1901, Carson Jay Lee, Oswald Langdon:
    • Recorded live to CD with new instrumentation--artillery shells, tuned suspension cables, boxes filled with springs--and deemphasized guitar parts, it's a beautiful collection of echoes and whispers, drones and...
  2. A repetitive ping, knock, or similar sound coming from an engine in which there are repeated uncontrolled explosions in the combustion chamber.
    • Sir―I was greatly interested in a short article in The Motor Cycle on the subject of engine knocking. - 1914 November 14, The Motor Cycle, London, page 528, column 1:
    • Knocking can also occur at high speed, but that may go undetected by the driver. - 2021 December 5, The Road Ahead, Brisbane, page 56, column 1:

Forms

knockings

Related

cherry knocking knocking on heaven's door knocking shop knocking-shop nigger knocking port knocking roof knocking sock-knocking

Verb

  1. present participle and gerund of knock