knotty

[ not-ee ]
/ ˈnɒt i /

adjective, knot·ti·er, knot·ti·est.

having knots; full of knots: a knotty piece of wood.
involved, intricate, or difficult: a knotty problem.

Origin of knotty

First recorded in 1200–50, knotty is from the Middle English word cnotti. See knot1, -y1

SYNONYMS FOR knotty

2 complex, complicated.

OTHER WORDS FROM knotty

knot·ti·ly, adverb knot·ti·ness, noun un·knot·ty, adjective

Words nearby knotty

knothole, knotroot, knotted, knotter, knotting, knotty, knotty rhatany, knotweed, knotwork, knout, know

British Dictionary definitions for knottiness

knotty
/ (ˈnɒtɪ) /

adjective -tier or -tiest

(of wood, rope, etc) full of or characterized by knots
extremely difficult or intricate

Derived forms of knotty

knottily, adverb knottiness, noun