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Definition of nod verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

nod

verb
 
/nɒd/
 
/nɑːd/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they nod
 
/nɒd/
 
/nɑːd/
he / she / it nods
 
/nɒdz/
 
/nɑːdz/
past simple nodded
 
/ˈnɒdɪd/
 
/ˈnɑːdɪd/
past participle nodded
 
/ˈnɒdɪd/
 
/ˈnɑːdɪd/
-ing form nodding
 
/ˈnɒdɪŋ/
 
/ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
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  1. [intransitive, transitive] if you nod, nod your head or your head nods, you move your head up and down to show agreement, understanding, etc.
    • I asked him if he would help me and he nodded.
    • ‘Ready?’ She nodded at me and we set off.
    • Her head nodded in agreement.
    • nod something He nodded his head sympathetically.
    • She nodded approval.
    • Everyone nodded their agreement.
    Extra Examples
    • ‘That's exactly it,’ she said, nodding vigorously.
    • Ashamed, I could only nod.
    • He nodded absently, his mind obviously on other things.
    • He nodded with satisfaction.
    • She could not speak but just nodded mutely.
    • She nodded gently to herself.
    • She nodded in agreement.
    • She nodded sagely as she listened.
    • ‘Is this the right way?’ she asked. The man nodded.
    • She nodded her approval.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • just
    • merely
    • only
    preposition
    • at
    • in
    • to
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive, transitive] to move your head down and up once to say hello or goodbye to somebody or to give them a sign to do something
    • nod (to/at somebody) The president nodded to the crowd as he passed in the motorcade.
    • nod to/at somebody to do something She nodded at him to begin speaking
    • nod something (to/at somebody) to nod a greeting
    Extra Examples
    • Michael nodded a greeting to the other visitors.
    • She nodded to Duncan as she left.
    • He nodded curtly and walked away.
    • They nodded at us, so we nodded back.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • just
    • merely
    • only
    preposition
    • at
    • in
    • to
    See full entry
  3. [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move your head in the direction of somebody/something to show that you are talking about them/it
    • I asked where Steve was and she nodded in the direction of the kitchen.
    • She nodded towards his suitcase. ‘Going somewhere?’ she asked.
    Extra Examples
    • ‘Let's go!’ he said, nodding towards/​toward the door.
    • Maria nodded towards the open door.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • just
    • merely
    • only
    preposition
    • at
    • in
    • to
    See full entry
  4. [intransitive] to let your head fall forward when you are sleeping in a chair
    • He sat nodding in front of the fire.
  5. Word Originlate Middle English (as a verb): perhaps of Low German origin; compare with Middle High German notten ‘move about, shake’. The noun dates from the mid 16th cent.
Idioms
have a nodding acquaintance with somebody/something
  1. to only know somebody/something slightly
See nod in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
perfectly
adverb
 
 
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