knap
/næp/verb, noun
knap is spelled K-N-A-P: 4 letters. It appears about once in every 25 million words in written English, the 150,355th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, knap means “To break (something) into small pieces with a cracking sound; to fragment, to smash; also, to break (something) apart sharply; to snap” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in knap?
| Letters | 4: K-N-A-P |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 25 million words; the 150,355th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like | |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is knap?
Knap appears about once in every 25 million words in written English, the 150,355th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce knap?
- US /næp/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-knap.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with knap
Sounds like: nap (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with knap?
11 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as knap from its last stressed vowel (/æp/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: pank.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of knap
- knaps present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- knapping participle, present
- knapped participle, past, singular, he/she/it, plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does knap mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To break (something) into small pieces with a cracking sound; to fragment, to smash; also, to break (something) apart sharply; to snap.
- 2
To break away flakes from (a brittle material which fractures conchoidally (“with planar concentric curves”), usually a mineral such as chert, flint, or obsidian), often to form a tool with a sharp edge or point.
- 3
To strike (something) sharply; to knock, to rap.
- 4
Followed by off: to break (something) away from another thing by striking or tapping sharply.
- 5
To say (something) crisply or sharply.
- 6
To break or fracture suddenly; to snap.
- 7
To make a cracking or snapping sound; to crack, to snap.
- 8
To strike sharply.
- 9
UKTo take a small, quick bite at or of (someone or something); to nibble, to nip, to snap.
- 10
UKTo take a small, quick bite.
- 11
UKobsoleteObsolete spelling of nap (“to arrest (someone); to grab or nab (someone or something); to steal (something); (obsolete) to receive (severe punishment), especially during a boxing match or a flogging; (generally) to receive (something)”).
noun
- 1
A sudden, sharp blow, knock, or slap; a rap, a whack.
- 2
The sound made by such a blow, knock, or slap.
- 3
Synonym of chattering damsel (“a component of a traditional mill which creates a vibratory motion to impel portions of grain toward the millstone; a clapper”).
- 4
obsoleteA method of cheating at a dice game.
- 5
UKA piece of raised ground or a short, steep slope; a small hill; a hillock, a knoll.
- 6
UKThe crest or top of a hill.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Knap in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense to break away flakes from (a brittle material), often to form a tool with a shar:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Portuguese | lascar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does knap come from?
The verb is derived from Late Middle English knappen (“to strike (something)”); further etymology uncertain, probably related to Middle Dutch knappen, cnappen (“to break (something) with a sharp sound, snap; to crack or crackle”) (modern Dutch knappen), probably ultimately onomatopoeic. The noun is derived from Late Middle English knap, knappe (“sharp blow, strike”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from the verb (see above), or related to an ancestor of Danish knep and Swedish knäpp (“a flick, rap, snap”), probably ultimately onomatopoeic.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).