v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Kneaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Kneading. ] [ OE. kneden, As. cnedan; akin to D. kneden, G. kneten, Sw. knåda, Icel. knoða; cf. OSlav. gnesti. ] 1. To work and press into a mass, usually with the hands; esp., to work, as by repeated pressure with the knuckles, into a well mixed mass, as the materials of bread, cake, etc.; as, to knead dough. [ 1913 Webster ]

The kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To treat or form as by kneading; to beat. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will knead him : I'll make him supple. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To press repeatedly with the hands or knuckles, sometimes with a twisting or squeezing motion; -- performed for example on the body of a person as a form of massage. [ PJC ]

Kneading trough, a trough or tray in which dough is kneaded. Ex. viii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To perform movements like kneading, with the paws; -- said of cats, which may knead{ 3 } a master's body when stroked, presumably a sign of contentment; as, a cat kneading and purring in his master's lap. [ PJC ]

a. That may be kneaded; capable of being worked into a mass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who kneads. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of one kneading. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Major von Knebel. ] (Min.) A mineral of a gray, red, brown, or green color, and glistening luster. It is a silicate of iron and manganese. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (Naut.) The twisting of a rope or cable, as it is running out. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. kne, cneo, As. cneó, cneów; akin to OS. knio, kneo, OFries. knī, G. & D. knie, OHG. chniu, chneo, Icel. knē, Sw. knä, Dan. knæ, Goth. kniu, L. genu, Gr. go`ny, Skr. jānu, √231. Cf. Genuflection. ] 1. In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) (a) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh and leg. (b) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in man. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mech. & Shipbuilding) A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give them title, knee, and approbation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knee breeches. See under Breeches. --
Knee holly,
Knee holm (Bot.), butcher's broom. --
Knee joint. See in the Vocabulary. --
Knee timber, timber with knees or angles in it. --
Knee tribute, or
Knee worship, tribute paid by kneeling; worship by genuflection. [ Obs. ] “Knee tribute yet unpaid.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To supplicate by kneeling. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fall down, and knee
The way into his mercy. Shak [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zool.) A tuft or brush of hair on the knees of some species of antelopes and other animals; -- chiefly used in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A thick mass or collection of hairs on the legs of bees, by aid of which they carry the collected pollen to the hive or nest; -- usually in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]