knicken

Knicken is a German verb meaning to bend, crease, or kink something, usually by applying pressure so that a flat object takes on a new shape with a visible crease. The noun form Knick denotes a bend or kink, which is the result of knicken. The term is used in everyday language as well as in technical contexts.

Conjugation and forms: knicken is a regular verb. Präsens: ich knicke, du knickst, er knickt; Präteritum: ich knickte; Partizip II: geknickt. In use, often one says “das Papier knickt” or “das Blech knickt,” and “das Papier ist geknickt.”

Usage and meanings: In everyday speech, knicken describes bending or creasing of materials such as paper, cardboard, fabric, or metal sheets. In technical and engineering contexts, knicken also refers to plastic deformation under compressive load, i.e., buckling or crumpling of components. The related noun Knicke refers to the resulting folds or creases. The verb can also appear in reference to body parts, for example when a knee “knickt” or buckles under pressure.

Distinctions: Knicken emphasizes bending or folding rather than breaking. It implies a change of shape that may be reversible or irreversible, depending on material properties and the applied force. The term is common across everyday language and technical disciplines such as materials science and structural engineering.

Examples: Der Scheinwerferkoffer knickt beim Transport. Das Blatt Papier knickt in der Mitte. Das Blech knickt unter zu starkem Druck. Das Knie knickt beim Sprung.