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.

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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

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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

Zhao, a woman sporting an intricately carved gold medallion on a necklace of jade beads and shimmering bangles on her wrist, brought her late grandfather's ring to the recycling machine.

From Barron's

Thousands of pounds have been raised for London bus driver Mark Hehir, who lost his job after he chased down a thief to return a female passenger's stolen necklace.

From BBC

Some of the seniors at school jeered at him for the necklace, but it didn’t stop him wearing it.

From Literature

Gold bars, rings and necklaces can be handed down to the next generation as wedding gifts or inheritance bequests.

From Barron's

She was however ordered to pay back 12.85 million won in cash and the court also ordered the confiscation of the diamond necklace.

From BBC

Related Words

• choker
• jewelry
• pendant
• strand