nod

nod¹ W2 [nɔd US na:d] v past tense and past participle nodded present participle nodding [I and T]

[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Perhaps from Low German]

1.) to move your head up and down, especially in order to show agreement or understanding

→↑shake

▪ I asked her if she was ready to go, and she nodded.

▪ Mom nodded her head sympathetically.

nod your approval/agreement etc

(=show your approval etc by nodding)

▪ Corbett nodded his acceptance.

2.) to move your head down and up again once in order to greet someone or give someone a sign to do something

nod at

▪ The judge nodded at the foreman to proceed.

nod to

▪ She nodded to us as she walked by.

3.) have a nodding acquaintance (with sth)

to know a little about a subject but not a lot

▪ Students will need to have a nodding acquaintance with at least three languages.

4.) have a nodding acquaintance (with sb) also be on nodding terms (with sb) BrE

to know someone but not very well

nod off phr v

to begin to sleep, usually when you do not intend to and are sitting somewhere

▪ I missed the movie because I kept nodding off.

nod ²

nod² n

1.)

an act of nodding

▪ The woman greeted us with a nod of the head.

▪ I showed the doorman my card and he gave a friendly nod .

2.) give sb the nod/get the nod from sb informal

to give or be given permission to do something

▪ We're waiting for the boss to give us the nod on this one.

3.) on the nod

BrE informal by general agreement and without people discussing it

▪ The chairman's proposals are usually passed on the nod.

4.) a nod's as good as a wink

BrE used to tell someone that you have understood something, although it was said in an indirect way

→the land of nod at ↑land¹ (9)