knollig

Knollig is a German adjective describing something that has knolls—small rounded elevations or bumps. The term conveys a surface or form that is not smooth, but rather characterized by rounded protuberances or gentle rises. It is commonly used for landscapes, but can also apply to textured materials or objects where the surface shows a bumpy or knobbly pattern.

In geography and geology, knollig describes terrain with a succession of small hills or knolls, yielding a gently rolling landscape rather than flat plains. In descriptions of materials or objects, knollig denotes a surface that is tactile or visually irregular, with small rounded protrusions such as bumps on pottery, wood, or stone.

Etymology and related forms: Knollig derives from the noun Knolle, meaning lump or knob, with the adjectival suffix -ig. The word has comparative and superlative forms: knolliger and am knolligsten.

Usage notes: Knollig is more specific than hügelig (hilly) or uneben (uneven) and emphasizes rounded protrusions rather than overall slope or irregularity. It appears mainly in written German, including descriptive writing, scientific descriptions, and design contexts where a knobby texture or terrain is being highlighted.

See also: hügelig, uneben, buckelig.