necklace

American  

[nek-lis] / ˈnɛk lɪs /

noun

1. a piece of jewelry consisting of a string of stones, beads, jewels, or the like, or a chain of gold, silver, or other metal, for wearing around the neck.

---

necklace British  

/ ˈnɛklɪs /

noun

1. a chain, band, or cord, often bearing beads, pearls, jewels, etc, worn around the neck as an ornament, esp by women

2. (in South Africa) a tyre soaked in petrol, placed round a person's neck, and set on fire in order to burn the person to death

---

verb

1. (tr) to kill (someone) by placing a burning tyre round his or her neck

Etymology

Origin of necklace

1580–90; neck + lace (in the sense “a cord or string to pull opposite ends together”)

Example Sentences

With a small gold “LA” necklace glinting against her black overalls, Toruño says L.A. is the closest thing to Central America she has found in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

It looked geeky to Chase, and his mom had hated “the phone necklace,” as she’d called it, but it was practical.

From Literature

This past week, the 43-year-old high-school teacher visited one of Beijing’s biggest jewelry markets to browse gold bracelets, necklaces and rings ahead of the Lunar New Year.

From The Wall Street Journal

She had knelt down on the floor, picking up all the necklaces and earrings that he had scattered about.

From Literature

He reached into the neck of his shirt and pulled out the strangest necklace Bat had ever seen.

From Literature

Related Words

• choker
• jewelry
• pendant
• strand