nod
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to make a slight, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command.
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to let the head fall slightly forward with a sudden, involuntary movement when sleepy.
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to doze, especially in a sitting position.
The speaker was so boring that half the audience was nodding.
- Synonyms:
- drowse
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to become careless, inattentive, or listless; make an error or mistake through lack of attention.
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(of trees, flowers, plumes, etc.) to droop, bend, or incline with a swaying motion.
verb (used with object)
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to bend (the head) in a short, quick downward movement, as of assent or greeting.
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to express or signify by such a movement of the head.
to nod approval; to nod agreement.
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to summon, bring, or send by a nod of the head.
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to cause (something) to lean or sway; incline.
noun
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a short, quick downward bending forward of the head, as in assent, greeting, or command, or because of drowsiness.
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a brief period of sleep; nap.
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a bending or swaying movement.
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a gesture or action indicating that someone or something has been approved, selected, recognized, etc..
The domed ceiling is a nod to traditional library reading rooms.
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a nomination, as for an office or award: The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.
It looks like he’s locked up the party’s nod for governor.
The film has received critical praise and two Oscar nods.
verb phrase
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nod out to fall asleep, especially owing to the effects of a drug.
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nod off to fall asleep or doze, especially in a sitting position.
He was reprimanded for nodding off in class.
idioms
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on the nod,
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British Slang. on credit.
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Slang. drowsy following a dose of a narcotic drug.
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get the nod, to get approval; be selected, recognized, etc.: He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.
We’ve gotten the nod from the administration to hire two assistant professors.
He got the nod as starting pitcher for the Phillies.
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give the nod, to give an indication of approval, recognition, etc.: It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.
The board gave the nod to the new proposal.
It wasn’t till May that the company was given the nod to schedule the event.
verb
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to lower and raise (the head) briefly, as to indicate agreement, invitation, etc
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(tr) to express or indicate by nodding
she nodded approval
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(tr) to bring or direct by nodding
she nodded me towards the manager's office
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(intr) (of flowers, trees, etc) to sway or bend forwards and back
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(intr) to let the head fall forward through drowsiness; be almost asleep
the old lady sat nodding by the fire
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(intr) to be momentarily inattentive or careless
even Homer sometimes nods
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a slight, casual, or superficial knowledge (of a subject or a person)
noun
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a quick down-and-up movement of the head, as in assent, command, etc
she greeted him with a nod
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a short sleep; nap See also land of Nod
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a swaying motion, as of flowers, etc, in the wind
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informal
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agreed, as in a committee meeting, without any formal procedure
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(formerly) on credit
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informal boxing the award of a contest to a competitor on the basis of points scored
Other Word Forms
- nodder noun
- nodding adjective
- noddingly adverb
- unnodding adjective
Etymology
Origin of nod1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nodde, of uncertain origin
Origin of Nod2
Ultimately from Hebrew Nōdh “wandering”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those stops were often seen as nods to Canada's large Indo-Canadian and Sikh communities.
From BBC
It's working title is "Castle Man" - a nod to Carr's former chat show, Chatty Man.
From BBC
It will be done in a way that is itself a nod to the past, in the guise of one of its two playable protagonists - a now older version of fan favourite Leon S. Kennedy.
From BBC
In the end, Hassett didn’t get the nod for Fed chair.
From Barron's
The enchanting and rhythmic “Dirty Harry” also examines war and soldiers, with its single cover even giving a nod to Stanley Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
