Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
knowhow \know"how`\, know-how \know"-how`\(n[=o]"hou`) n. the knowledge and skill required to do something; practical knowledge for a specific task.
Syn: knowhow.
Wiktionary
n. the knowledge and skill to be able to (do something correctly)
WordNet
n. the (technical) knowledge and skill required to do something
Wikipedia
Know-how is a term for practical knowledge on how to accomplish something, as opposed to “know-what” (facts), “know-why” (science), or “know-who” (communication). Know-how is often tacit knowledge, which means that it is difficult to transfer to another person by means of writing it down or verbalising it. The opposite of tacit knowledge is explicit knowledge.
In the context of industrial property (now generally viewed as intellectual property - IP), know-how is a component in the transfer of technology in national and international environments, co-existing with or separate from other IP rights such as patents, trademarks and copyright and is an economic asset. While know-how is recognized in United States Tax regulations as a property, services by individuals having know-how are not.
Usage examples of "know-how".
Ever since the first dab of living substance was brewed up in the amino-acid-tainted soups of azoic oceans on our primordial Earth, and the first simple prototypes of the double-helix DNA molecules of heredity appeared, biological forms have been becoming more complex--learning, acquiring more know-how.
I had seen this hulking Bohunk or throwback Polack from my study window, busying himself down on the street, always ready to flex his primitive can-do and know-how.
In addition I wanted to canvass his views on what sort of human society, if any, could have had the technological know-how, such a very long while ago, to measure accurately the altitudes of the stars and to devise a plan as mathematical and ambitious as that of the Giza necropolis.
They were also convinced that the Iraqis had retained the know-how and probably much of the equipment they needed to rebuild their WMD and ballistic missile arsenals and to get back to work building nuclear weapons.
Only Africans, they claimed, had the know-how to deal with African bees.
Against the terrors and sorrows of death, only the multisyllabic Latinate adjectives and nouns for protection, the know-how, and then the prayers, for those who have them.
Today, we have information from key defectors and a consensus among knowledgeable experts that the Iraqis are hard at work on such a program and that they have all the know-how and the technology to do it.
They were also convinced that the Iraqis had retained the know-how and probably much of the equipment they needed to rebuild their WMD and ballistic missile arsenals and to get back to work building nuclear weapons.
Specialists and experts from United London, New York and Chicago poured into the Province eager to avail themselves of Canadian know-how.
With that kind of know-how and equipment, boosting Rick’s Porsche and returning it vacuumed and wiped clean of prints would’ve been a sleepwalk for Detective Bosc.
This know-how included such items as the practice and accomplishment of stalking a sentry, scouting in the advanced guard, patrolling for information in enemy territory, street fighting, and knocking out pillboxes on the forward and rear slopes of hills.
It also has the technology and the know-how to build a system capable of enriching that uranium to weapons grade.
I've got the up-front money and a fair amount of business know-how.
Though he did have microbots in his blood, he had no skills or know-how to share them with anybody else.
For the projects you have been working on, you already had enough background and know-how to learn the necessary science to follow my instructions.