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neck
[ nek ]
noun
- the part of the body of an animal or human being that connects the head and the trunk.
- the part of a garment encircling, partly covering, or closest to the neck; neckline.
- the length of the neck of a horse or other animal as a measure in racing.
- the slender part near the top of a bottle, vase, or similar object.
- any narrow, connecting, or projecting part suggesting the neck of an animal.
- a narrow strip of land, as an isthmus or a cape.
- a strait.
- the longer and more slender part of a violin or similar stringed instrument, extending from the body to the head.
- Building Trades, Machinery. the part on a shank of a bolt next to the head, especially when it has a special form.
- Anatomy. a narrowed part of a bone, organ, or the like.
- Dentistry. the slightly narrowed region of a tooth between the crown and the root.
- Printing. beard ( def 5 ).
- Architecture. a cylindrical continuation of the shaft of a column above the lower astragal of the capital, as in the Roman Doric and Tuscan orders.
- Also called volcanic neck. Geology. the solidified lava or igneous rock filling a conduit leading either to a vent of an extinct volcano or to a laccolith.
verb (used without object)
- Informal. (of two persons) to embrace, kiss, and caress one another amorously.
verb (used with object)
- Informal. to embrace, kiss, and caress (someone) amorously.
- to strangle or behead.
neck
/ nɛk /
noun
- the part of an organism connecting the head with the rest of the body cervicaljugular
- the part of a garment around or nearest the neck
- something resembling a neck in shape or position
the neck of a bottle
- anatomy a constricted portion of an organ or part, such as the cervix of the uterus
- a narrow or elongated projecting strip of land; a peninsula or isthmus
- a strait or channel
- the part of a violin, cello, etc, that extends from the body to the tuning pegs and supports the fingerboard
- a solid block of lava from the opening of an extinct volcano, exposed after erosion of the surrounding rock
- botany the upper, usually tubular, part of the archegonium of mosses, ferns, etc
- the length of a horse's head and neck taken as an approximate distance by which one horse beats another in a race
to win by a neck
- informal.a short distance, amount, or margin
he is always a neck ahead in new techniques
- informal.impudence; audacity
he had the neck to ask for a rise
- architect the narrow band at the top of the shaft of a column between the necking and the capital, esp as used in the Tuscan order
- another name for beard, on printer's type
- break one's neck informal.to exert oneself greatly, esp by hurrying, in order to do something
- by the neck slang.(of a bottle of beer) served unpoured
give me two bottles of stout by the neck
- get it in the neck informal.to be reprimanded or punished severely
- neck and neckabsolutely level or even in a race or competition
- neck of the woods informal.an area or locality
a quiet neck of the woods
- risk one's neckto take a great risk
- informal.
- to escape from a difficult or dangerous situation
- to help someone else escape from such a situation
- stick one's neck out informal.to risk criticism, ridicule, failure, etc, by speaking one's mind
- up to one's neck indeeply involved in
he's up to his neck in dodgy dealings
verb
- informal.intr to kiss, embrace, or fondle someone or one another passionately
- informal.tr to swallow (something, esp a drink)
he's been necking pints all night
Derived Forms
- ˈnecker, noun
Other Words From
- necker noun
- neckless adjective
- necklike adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of neck1
Word History and Origins
Origin of neck1
Idioms and Phrases
- be up to one's neck, Informal. to have a surfeit; be overburdened:
Right now she's up to her neck in work.
- break one's neck, Informal. to make a great effort:
We broke our necks to get there on time.
- get it in the neck, Slang.
- to suffer punishment or loss:
The trend is to consolidation and small businesses are getting it in the neck.
- to be rejected or dismissed:
The employees got it in the neck when the company moved overseas.
- to be sharply reprimanded or scolded.
- neck and neck, even or very close; indeterminate as to the outcome:
They were coming toward the finish line neck and neck.
- neck of the woods, Informal. neighborhood, area, or vicinity:
Next time you're in this neck of the woods, drop in.
- stick one's neck out, Informal. to expose oneself to danger, disaster, failure, disgrace, etc.; take a risk:
He stuck his neck out by supporting an unpopular candidate.
- win by a neck,
- to win by a small amount or narrow margin.
- Racing. to be first by a head and neck; finish closely.
More idioms and phrases containing neck
- albatross around one's neck
- break one's back (neck)
- breathe down someone's neck
- dead from the neck up
- millstone around one's neck
- pain in the neck
- risk life and limb (one's neck)
- save someone's bacon (neck)
- stick one's neck out
- up to one's ears (neck)
Example Sentences
"I pulled my hand back. I put it behind my neck. And he just kept saying, 'give me your hand, give me your hand'."
One witness involved in the exhumation of bodies near Nasr Hospital told the Commission that he had seen bodies with gunshot wounds in the head or neck.
A group of 15 patients treated for head and neck cancer took part in research asking them to compare the comfort of prosthetics made using different methods.
The note initially seemed too big to pull out the neck of the bottle so they devised a tool using two pieces of cable to twist it through the narrow opening.
Around his neck he always wears his prized possession, bought with months of savings: a digital camera.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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