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throat

[throht]
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noun Anatomy, Zoology.
  1. the passage from the mouth to the stomach or to the lungs, including the pharynx, esophagus, larynx, and trachea.
  2. some analogous or similar narrowed part or passage.
  3. the front of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone.
  4. the narrow opening between a fireplace and its flue or smoke chamber, often closed by a damper.
  5. Nautical, Machinery. swallow1(def 13).
  6. Nautical.
    1. Also called nock.the forward upper corner of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail.
    2. jaw1(def 5).
  7. the forward edge of the opening in the vamp of a shoe.
  8. Automotive. barrel(def 14).
verb (used with object)
  1. to make a throat in; provide with a throat.
  2. to utter or express from or as from the throat; utter throatily.
Idioms
  1. cut one's own throat, to bring about one's own ruin: He cut his own throat by being nasty to the boss.
  2. jump down someone's throat, Informal. to disagree with, criticize, or scold overhastily: Wait and let me finish before you jump down my throat.
  3. lump in one's throat, a tight or uncomfortable feeling in the throat, as a reaction to an emotion: The sight of the infant brought a lump to her throat.
  4. ram/force (something) down someone's throat, Informal. to force someone to agree to or accept (something).
  5. stick in one's throat, to be difficult of expression; cause to hesitate: The words of sympathy stuck in her throat.

Origin of throat

before 900; Middle English throte, Old English throte, throta, throtu; akin to Old High German drozza throat, Old Norse throti swelling. See throttle
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for throat

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • "He had a gun shoved into the hollow of his throat," said Andy.

  • A ghost of color was going up her throat, staining her cheeks.

  • Charles had said as he fingered his throat, which was patched with black and blue.

  • There was a snarl; Jeff had Joe by the throat, and Joe was reaching for his gun.

  • The fingers thrust at his throat—he seemed to be tearing his own flesh.

British Dictionary definitions for throat

throat

noun
    1. that part of the alimentary and respiratory tracts extending from the back of the mouth (nasopharynx) to just below the larynx
    2. the front part of the neck
  2. something resembling a throat, esp in shape or functionthe throat of a chimney
  3. botany the gaping part of a tubular corolla or perianth
  4. informal a sore throat
  5. cut one's throat or cut one's own throat to bring about one's own ruin
  6. have by the throat to have compete control over (a person or thing)
  7. jump down someone's throat See jump (def. 24)
  8. ram something down someone's throat or force something down someone's throat to insist that someone listen to or accept (something)he rammed his own opinions down my throat
  9. stick in one's throat or stick in one's craw informal to be difficult, or against one's conscience, for one to accept, utter, or believe
Related formsRelated adjectives: gular, guttural, jugular, laryngeal

Word Origin

Old English throtu; related to Old High German drozza throat, Old Norse throti swelling
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for throat

n.

Old English þrote (implied in þrotbolla "the Adam's apple, larynx," literally "throat boll"), related to þrutian "to swell," from Proto-Germanic *thrut- (cf. Old High German drozza, German Drossel, Old Saxon strota, Middle Dutch strote, Dutch strot "throat"), perhaps from PIE *trud- (cf. Old English þrutian "to swell," Old Norse þrutna "to swell").

The notion is of "the swollen part" of the neck. Italian strozza "throat," strozzare "to strangle" are Germanic loan-words. College slang for "competitive student" is 1970s, from cutthroat.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
throat in Medicine

throat

(thrōt)
n.
  1. The portion of the digestive tract that lies between the rear of the mouth and the esophagus and includes the fauces and the pharynx.
  2. The anterior portion of the neck.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with throat

throat

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.