knotty
pronunciation
How to pronounce knotty in British English:
UK [ˈnɒti]
How to pronounce knotty in American English:
US [ˈnɑti]
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- Adjective:
- making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve
- used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
- highly involved or intricate
Word Origin
- knotty (adj.)
- mid-13c. (figurative use early 13c.), from knot (n.) + -y (2). Related: Knottiness.
Example
- 1. China 's economy has always been a knotty issue .
- 2. Structuring a deal could prove exceedingly knotty .
- 3. The links between these two knotty subjects-the recurrent fiscal crises and the arcana of electoral reform-are complex .
- 4. On the knotty but crucial question of how to reduce deforestation and the emissions it causes , progress was scanty .
- 5. So began a knotty process that will take four years , and is being watched by other general counsels the world over .