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

Letisha Lucas, a 33-year-old tourist from Canada -- which has its own wildfires happening -- said the smoke smell was immediately obvious on arrival in Madrid "and very irritating on the throat".

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

Pomroy is keen to stress that Nauru Soccer is not trying to "force football down everyone's throat" but says it's about laying a foundation for a sport, promoting healthy lifestyles and building communities.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

When the author was diagnosed with throat cancer despite having never smoked, he wasn’t surprised.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

The weeklong Lineage warehouse fire coincided with a surge in hospital visits from Angelenos concerned about throat pain and breathing problems, The Times has learned.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

I clear my throat and smile politely at my father.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

It had the power to soothe the roughest of sore throats and quiet the phlegmiest of coughs.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

"They are at each other's throats and it's boiling over, which is not a good look. Even the manager has come across too," Dublin said.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

Team Jackass has stayed united even while at each other’s throats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

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

For him to warm up to me after years of being at each other’s throats just because we’d been forced together?

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• esophagus
• larynx