What is knead? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of knead in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of knead

kneadverb
nhào
/niːd//niːd/

Where does the word knead come from?

The word "knead" has its roots in Old English, stemming from the verb "cnedan", which means "to compress or squeeze". This primitive verb was likely derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*knidiz", which is also the source of the Modern German word "knicken", meaning "to bend or distort". In the context of baking, the verb "knead" originally referred to the action of compressing and shaping dough, such as when making bread or pastry. Over time, the definition of "knead" expanded to include other activities that involve applying pressure or compression, such as kneading clay or mold material. The word "knead" has remained relatively unchanged since its Old English origins, and its literal meaning continues to evoke the fundamental action of manipulating dough or other materials through physical pressure.

Vocabulary summary knead

type transitive verb

meaning knead (dough, clay...)

meaning (figurative) mix into, mix into

meaning massage; kneading

Example of vocabulary kneadnamespace

to press and stretch dough, wet clay, etc. with your hands to make it ready to use

Add the water and knead the mixture well.
She kneaded the dough for 10 minutes, pushing and folding it until it was smooth and elastic.
After a long day at work, the masseuse began to knead the tension out of my muscles.
My grandmother taught me how to knead pastry dough, mixing the flour and butter until it formed a ball that was light and flaky.
The baker carefully kneaded the bread dough, punching it down and folding it over several times to develop its texture.

to rub and press muscles, etc. especially to relax them or to make them less painful