knurl

knurl — noun

1. a small, hard, round lump that sticks out from the surface of something, such as

1.nounC2
Definition

a small, hard, round lump that sticks out from the surface of something, such as on a piece of wood, a bone, or tree bark

Example

Ramón ran his thumb over the knurl on the oak branch, wondering if the tree was diseased.

The wooden chair had a knurl on its arm where a branch had once grown.

collocation: knurl on [surface]

Common collocations
  • knurl on [surface]
  • hard knurl
  • small knurl
Synonyms
  • bump

    much more common and general; any raised area on a surface

  • lump

    a swelling or solid mass, often larger or softer than a knurl

  • knob

    a rounded protrusion with a more defined shape; also used for door handles

  • nodule

    more technical or medical; a small rounded lump found in geology or on the body

Antonyms
  • dent

    a hollow or depression, the opposite shape of a raised bump

  • hollow

    an indentation or empty space within a surface

Usage Note

This sense is uncommon in everyday speech and may sound literary or technical. A knurl in this meaning is typically a natural feature of a surface, such as a knot in wood or a growth on bone, not a man-made feature.

Common Mistakes

He sanded down the knurled on the branch.
He sanded down the knurl on the branch.
'knurl' is the noun for the lump itself; 'knurled' is an adjective describing a surface that has been given a rough texture.

2. a small raised line or bump that is pressed or cut into a metal part, giving the

2.nounC2
Definition

a small raised line or bump that is pressed or cut into a metal part, giving the surface a rough texture so it does not slip when held

Example

The metal handle had fine knurls along its sides so Niran could grip it firmly.

Salma chose a jar opener with deep knurls since her hands got slippery when cooking.

collocation: deep knurls

Common collocations
  • deep knurls
  • fine knurls
  • knurls on [object]
  • knurls for grip
Synonyms
  • ridge

    a much more general term for any long raised line on a surface

  • bead

    a narrow rounded band, similar in shape but often decorative rather than functional

  • groove

    a channel or indentation; the opposite shape of a knurl

Antonyms

Usage Note

The related adjective 'knurled' appears frequently in manufacturing catalogues (e.g. 'knurled knob', 'knurled handle'). The noun is often used in the plural because knurls are typically created in a patterned series rather than as a single ridge.

Common Mistakes

The knurls on the handle help you to slip it easily.
The knurls on the handle help you to grip it firmly.
knurls are designed to prevent slipping, not to make something more slippery.

Word family

  • knurled
    adjectiveC2
  • knurling
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe types of surface texture, but they differ in shape and purpose. A 'ridge' is any long, narrow raised line on a surface — the most general term. A 'groove' is the opposite: a long, narrow channel cut into a surface. A 'bead' is a narrow, rounded raised band, often decorative rather than functional. 'Knurl' specifically refers to one of a patterned series of small ridges or beads pressed into a metal surface to improve grip. A 'serration' is a series of V-shaped notches along an edge, designed for cutting or sawing. For example, a knurled knob has small diamond-shaped ridges all around it so you can turn it with wet fingers, while a serrated knife has tooth-like notches along its blade for slicing bread.

ridge ↗groove ↗bead ↗serration

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a series of knurls
  • knurls for grip

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Knurl' is related to the Middle English word 'knurre', meaning a knot in wood. It is also connected to 'gnarl' (a knotty lump in wood) and 'knurled' (having a rough texture). The word developed its specialised manufacturing sense in the 19th century as metalworking techniques improved. The '-le' ending is a common English diminutive suffix, suggesting the word originally meant 'a small knot'.

First known use

1608

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1