nod
[verb]
Synonyms:
- acknowledge, bow, gesture, indicate, signal
- sleep, doze, drowse, nap
[noun]
Synonyms:
- gesture, acknowledgment, greeting, indication, sign, signal

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. nod¹ W2 /nɒd $ nɑːd/ verb (past tense and past participle nodded, present participle nodding) [intransitive and transitive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Perhaps from Low German]

1. to move your head up and down, especially in order to show agreement or understanding ⇒ shake:
I asked her if she was ready to go, and she nodded.
Mom nodded her head sympathetically.
nod your approval/agreement etc (=show your approval etc by nodding)
Corbett nodded his acceptance.

2. to move your head down and up again once in order to greet someone or give someone a sign to do something
nod at
The judge nodded at the foreman to proceed.
nod to
She nodded to us as she walked by.

3. have a nodding acquaintance (with something) to know a little about a subject but not a lot:
Students will need to have a nodding acquaintance with Spanish.

4. have a nodding acquaintance (with somebody) (also be on nodding terms (with somebody) British English) to know someone but not very well
nod off phrasal verb
to begin to sleep, usually when you do not intend to and are sitting somewhere:
I missed the movie because I kept nodding off.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. nod² noun

1. [countable] an act of nodding:
The woman greeted us with a nod of the head.
I showed the doorman my card and he gave a friendly nod.

2. give somebody the nod/get the nod from somebody informal to give or be given permission to do something:
We’re waiting for the boss to give us the nod on this one.

3. on the nod British English informal by general agreement and without people discussing it:
The chairman’s proposals are usually passed on the nod.

4. a nod’s as good as a wink British English used to tell someone that you have understood something, although it was said in an indirect way
⇒ the land of nod at land¹(9)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

nod
noun
ADJ. brief, brisk, quick, imperceptible, little, slight, small | curt, perfunctory, terse He dismissed them with a curt nod.
approving, satisfied She inspected my work and gave a satisfied nod.
reassuring | passing (figurative) He gave a passing nod (= a brief acknowledgement) to the show that had launched his career.
VERB + NOD give (sb) My teacher gave me a nod of reassurance and I began.
get He's ready to play and just waiting to get the nod from the team coach.
wait for
PREP. at a ~, with a ~ | ~ from At a nod from Lawton, he gently turned the handle.
~ in the direction of, ~ of a nod of approval
~ to, ~ towards ‘I couldn't have done this alone’, he said with a nod towards his wife.
PHRASES a nod of sb's/the head She answered with an almost imperceptible nod of the head.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

nod
verb
ADV. just, merely, only, simply Ashamed, I could only nod.
fervently, furiously, vigorously, violently ‘That's exactly it,’ she said, nodding vigorously.
gently She nodded gently to herself.
almost imperceptibly, slightly | slowly | quickly | abruptly, briefly, briskly, curtly He nodded curtly and walked away.
jerkily, stiffly | dumbly, mutely, silently, wordlessly She could not speak but just nodded mutely.
absently, abstractedly, vaguely He nodded absently, his mind obviously on other things.
meekly | politely, respectfully | amiably, cheerfully, happily | appreciatively, approvingly, eagerly, encouragingly, enthusiastically, gratefully, sympathetically, understandingly | doubtfully, reluctantly | coolly | grimly | glumly, miserably, sadly | gravely, seriously, solemnly, thoughtfully | intelligently, sagely, wisely She nodded sagely as she listened.
back
PREP. at They nodded at us, so we nodded back.
in She nodded in agreement.
to She nodded to Duncan as she left.
towards ‘Let's go,’ he said, nodding towards the door.
with He nodded with satisfaction.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

nod
nɔd
See: land of nod

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲