definitions

jugular

[ juhg-yuh-ler, joo-gyuh- ]
/ ˈdʒʌg yə lər, ˈdʒu gyə- /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR jugular ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Anatomy.
  1. of or relating to the throat or neck.
  2. noting or pertaining to any of certain large veins of the neck, especially one (external jugular vein) collecting blood from the superficial parts of the head or one (internal jugular vein) collecting blood from within the skull.
(of a fish) having the pelvic fins at the throat, before the pectoral fins.

noun

Anatomy. a jugular vein.

Nearby words

jugglery, jughead, juglandaceous, jugoslav, jugoslavia, jugular, jugular foramen, jugular fossa, jugular ganglion, jugular gland, jugular nerve

Idioms

    go for the jugular, to attack a vital and vulnerable trait, feature, element, etc., in an attempt to overcome somebody or something swiftly and totally: The defense attorney went right for the jugular by attempting to destroy the witness's credibility.

Origin of jugular

1590–1600; < Late Latin jugulāris, equivalent to Latin jugul(um) throat (see jugulate) + -āris -ar1

Related forms

in·ter·jug·u·lar, adjectivepost·jug·u·lar, adjectivesub·jug·u·lar, adjective

Can be confused

juggler jugular
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for go for the jugular

jugular

/ (ˈdʒʌɡjʊlə) /

adjective

of, relating to, or situated near the throat or neck
of, having, or denoting pelvic fins situated in front of the pectoral finsa jugular fish

noun

short for jugular vein
go for the jugular to make a savage and destructive attack on an enemy's weakest point

Word Origin for jugular

C16: from Late Latin jugulāris, from Latin jugulum throat
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

Medicine definitions for go for the jugular

jugular

[ jŭg′yə-lər ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or located in the region of the neck or throat.

n.

A jugular vein.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with go for the jugular

jugular

see go for, def. 4.

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