knuckle joint
- noun
- /ˈnʌkəl dʒɔɪnt/
- Specialized
:
articulación de bisagra
- A knuckle joint connects the two metal rods, allowing them to pivot smoothly in one direction.
Examples
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Engineers chose a knuckle joint to connect the two shafts because of its flexibility in one direction.
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The knuckle joint in the device allows the lever to move up and down efficiently.
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A knuckle joint must be properly lubricated to prevent wear from repeated motion.
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The engineer designed a new knuckle joint for the robotic arm.
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A knuckle joint allows for smooth movement in machinery.
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The design of the knuckle joint ensures that the robotic arm can move effectively within its limited range.
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For the mechanism to function properly, engineers must ensure that the knuckle joint is installed correctly.
Synonyms
100
2.8
The place where two bones meet and allow movement
1
4.3
A joint that lets a body part move mainly in one direction like a knee or elbow
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'knuckle' (the visible bump at a finger joint) plus 'joint' (where bones articulate), so together they denote the finger joint that forms a knuckle. This straightforward noun–noun compounding follows normal English composition patterns and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Knuckle joint may come from the human knuckle: imagine two metal bars joined like fingers at a knuckle, so they bend in one direction like a finger. So a knuckle joint means 'a machine joint that lets parts bend in one direction'.