knead Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make uniform
    work.
    • knead dough
    • work the clay until it is soft
  2. verb manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes
    rub down; massage.
    • She rubbed down her child with a sponge

WordNet

Knead transitive verb
Etymology
OE. kneden, As. cnedan; akin to D. kneden, G. kneten, Sw. knda, Icel. knoa; cf. OSlav.gnesti.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Kneaded; present participle & verbal noun Kneading
Definitions
  1. To work and press into a mass, usually with the hands; esp., to work, as by repeated pressure with the knuckles, into a well mixed mass, as the materials of bread, cake, etc.; as, to knead dough.
    The kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking. Shak.
  2. Fig.: To treat or form as by kneading; to beat.
    I will knead him : I'll make him supple. Shak.
    Ex. viii. 3.

Webster 1913