/nē/
Noun, pl. knees
1. The thigh with the lower leg and consists of two articulations: one between the femur and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus (a pivotal hinge joint), which permits flexion and extension as well as a slight medial and lateral rotation. Since in humans the knee supports nearly the whole weight of the body, it is vulnerable to both acute injury and the development of osteoarthritis. (wikipedia.org)
2. In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank. (wiktionary.org)
3. Hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella. (wordnetweb.princeton.edu)
4. Joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee. (wordnetweb.princeton.edu)
Syn: knee joint, human knee, articulatio genus, genu
5. In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in humans. (wiktionary.org)
6. The part of a garment that covers the knee. (wiktionary.org)
Word origin: From Old English cneo, cneow “knee.”