A knot can refer to different things depending on the context. Here are the different meanings of a knot:

• Knot in cordage: A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices. Knots may belong to more than one category.

• Knot as a unit of speed: In reference to currents, a knot is defined as one nautical mile per hour and is used to measure speed. A nautical mile is slightly more than a standard mile. 1 knot = 1.15 miles per hour = 1.85 kilometers per hour. The term "knot" originated in the 17th century when sailors determined their speed through the water by using a device called a "chip log").

• Knot in other contexts: A knot can also refer to a protuberant lump or swelling in tissue, the base of a woody branch enclosed in the stem from which it arises, a bond of union, or a closed curve in three-dimensional space.

It is important to note that the term "knot" has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.