throat

American  

[throht] / θroʊt /

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. 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.

---

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

---

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).

---

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

RZA reunites with Shameik Moore, who starred in his 2020 heist drama “Cut Throat City” and played Wu-Tang member Raekwon in the Hulu series “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

In 2005, 91-year-old W. Mark Felt, the FBI’s second-in-command at the time of Watergate, identified himself as Deep Throat in an article published in Vanity Fair magazine.

From Washington Post • Apr. 11, 2023

She was fighting a cold and drinking Throat Coat herbal tea, dressed in a navy sweater and white sneakers, a fluffy tan coat pooling around her.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2023

If a patient experiences six or more cases of tonsillitis or strep throat per year, an Ear Nose and Throat specialist may recommend having the tonsils removed.

From Encyclopedia.com • Sep. 19, 2018

“I will probably spend several years at the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital having this attended to,” Ignatius said, fingering his ear.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Related Words

• esophagus
• larynx