throat

American  

[throht] / θroʊt /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

• throats
  plural

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. swallow.

6. Nautical.

   1. Also called nock.  the forward upper corner of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail.

   2. jaw.

7. the forward edge of the opening in the vamp of a shoe.

8. Automotive. barrel.

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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. stick in one's throat, to be difficult of expression; cause to hesitate.

   The words of sympathy stuck in her throat.

3. jump down someone's throat, to disagree with, criticize, or scold overhastily.

   Wait and let me finish before you jump down my throat.

4. ram / force something down someone's throat, to force someone to agree to or accept (something).

5. 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.

throat British  

/ θrəʊt /

noun

1. 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 function

   the throat of a chimney

3. botany the gaping part of a tubular corolla or perianth

4. informal a sore throat

5. to bring about one's own ruin

6. to have compete control over (a person or thing)

7. See jump

8. to insist that someone listen to or accept (something)

   he rammed his own opinions down my throat

9. informal to be difficult, or against one's conscience, for one to accept, utter, or believe

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throat More Idioms  

1. see at each other's throats; cut someone's throat; frog in one's throat; jump down someone's throat; lump in one's throat; ram (shove) down someone's throat; stick in one's craw (throat).

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• throats
  plural

Etymology

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

Explanation

Your throat is the part of your body you use to swallow and to breathe. When you're hot and thirsty, your throat may feel dry and parched. Sometimes, the word throat is used interchangeably with neck, so you might describe your mom's pretty necklace as encircling her throat. It also appears in literary contexts meaning "voice," as in "From the throats of the choirboys came a lovely song." Anatomically, your throat is inside your neck, providing the tube or passage from the back of your mouth to your stomach and lungs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

throat throats

For decades, he supervised the coal conveyor belt that fed generators, breathing in dust and gas that "nipped his throat".

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

It was being a pushover that had finally begun to clear its throat, and Treasury moved to quiet even that.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

After all, I’d never lay myself off, push any convoluted apps down my own throat, replace me with AI or let students use chatbots to supplant themselves.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

The number of people going to emergency rooms with throat pain and concerns about smoke inhalation increased during this period.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

The words race up my throat, begging to be heard, but I don’t dare let them out, because even though it’s the truth, I know I’ll sound ridiculous.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

The cathedral where Avraamiy usually holds services, decked with gold and brightly colored religious scenes, was filled with acrid smoke, stinging the rescuers’ eyes and throats.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

Their throats would have been in need of a soothing nectar last night.

From BBC ● May 9, 2026

I do think that they’ve always been at each other’s throats.

From Slate ● May 7, 2026

And as bleak as things may seem lately, we still do a lot more getting along than tearing at each others’ throats.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026

Things about their fathers and their fathers’ fathers, things about justice and honor and lawful revenge—their throats swollen, their eyes rolling like a newborn colt’s, sweat running down their shoulders.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Related Words

• esophagus
• larynx