"knobbing" means: The amount by which a bowl is wider in the middle than at the top and bottom.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
knobbing
The amount by which a bowl is wider in the middle than at the top and bottom.
Definitions
#2·Apr 27, 2026
A pattern of knobs or lumps.
Consequently, the knobbing is most marked at the costochondral junctions of the ribs, the lower end of the femur , both ends of the fibula and tibia , and the upper end of the humerus .
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#3·Apr 27, 2026
(UK, vulgar, slang) A session of penetrative sexual intercourse or the act of sexual penetration.
Also, the degree of knobbing was too great for the size of the shell.
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Show 1 more dictionary-style sense (imported)
#1·Apr 27, 2026
The amount by which a bowl is wider in the middle than at the top and bottom.
For parents
"knobbing" means: The amount by which a bowl is wider in the middle than at the top and bottom.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"knobbing" means: The amount by which a bowl is wider in the middle than at the top and bottom.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "knobbing" (K)
knight of the shireknit capknitsterknittingknobknobberknobbishknob cheeseknob-endknobheadknob jobknob jockey
Browse all slang words starting with K.