doorknob
UK: ˈdɔː.nɒb | US: ˈdɔːr.nɑːb
n. a rounded handle or knob used to open or close a door.
The word "doorknob" is a straightforward compound of "door" (from Old English duru, meaning an entrance barrier) and "knob" (from Middle English knobbe, meaning a rounded protrusion or handle). The combination reflects the functional design of the object—a rounded handle attached to a door for ease of operation. This compound structure emerged naturally in English to describe a common household fixture.
She turned the doorknob slowly, trying not to make noise.
The antique doorknob was made of polished brass.
He jiggled the doorknob, but the door was locked.
The child couldn’t reach the doorknob without standing on tiptoe.
A loose doorknob fell off when I tried to open the door.