Plain English Meaning
A way of measuring how fast something is moving. One knot means traveling one nautical mile in one hour. It is the standard speed unit used in flying.
Full Definition
A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. One knot is approximately 1.15 statute miles per hour or 1.852 kilometers per hour. Aircraft airspeed, groundspeed, and wind speed in aviation are almost always expressed in knots.
Context Anchor
Seen on airspeed indicators, takeoff and landing speeds, weather reports, and performance discussions such as liftoff speed in ground effect.