neck

[ nek ]

noun

1. the part of the body of an animal or human being that connects the head and the trunk.
2. the part of a garment encircling, partly covering, or closest to the neck; neckline.
3. the length of the neck of a horse or other animal as a measure in racing.
4. the slender part near the top of a bottle, vase, or similar object.
5. any narrow, connecting, or projecting part suggesting the neck of an animal.
6. a narrow strip of land, as an isthmus or a cape.
7. a strait.
8. the longer and more slender part of a violin or similar stringed instrument, extending from the body to the head.
9. Building Trades, Machinery. the part on a shank of a bolt next to the head, especially when it has a special form.
10. Anatomy. a narrowed part of a bone, organ, or the like.
11. Dentistry. the slightly narrowed region of a tooth between the crown and the root.
12. Printing. beard ( def 5 ).
13. 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.
14. 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)

1. Informal. (of two persons) to embrace, kiss, and caress one another amorously.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to embrace, kiss, and caress (someone) amorously.
2. to strangle or behead.

neck

/ nɛk /

noun

1. the part of an organism connecting the head with the rest of the body cervicaljugular
2. the part of a garment around or nearest the neck
3. something resembling a neck in shape or position

   the neck of a bottle

4. anatomy a constricted portion of an organ or part, such as the cervix of the uterus
5. a narrow or elongated projecting strip of land; a peninsula or isthmus
6. a strait or channel
7. the part of a violin, cello, etc, that extends from the body to the tuning pegs and supports the fingerboard
8. a solid block of lava from the opening of an extinct volcano, exposed after erosion of the surrounding rock
9. botany the upper, usually tubular, part of the archegonium of mosses, ferns, etc
10. 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

11. informal.
    a short distance, amount, or margin

    he is always a neck ahead in new techniques

12. informal.
    impudence; audacity

    he had the neck to ask for a rise

13. 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
14. another name for beard, on printer's type
15. break one's neck informal.
    to exert oneself greatly, esp by hurrying, in order to do something
16. by the neck slang.
    (of a bottle of beer) served unpoured

    give me two bottles of stout by the neck

17. get it in the neck informal.
    to be reprimanded or punished severely
18. neck and neck
    absolutely level or even in a race or competition
19. neck of the woods informal.
    an area or locality

    a quiet neck of the woods

20. risk one's neck
    to take a great risk
21. informal.
    1. to escape from a difficult or dangerous situation
    2. to help someone else escape from such a situation
22. stick one's neck out informal.
    to risk criticism, ridicule, failure, etc, by speaking one's mind
23. up to one's neck in
    deeply involved in

    he's up to his neck in dodgy dealings

verb

1. informal.
   intr to kiss, embrace, or fondle someone or one another passionately
2. informal.
   tr to swallow (something, esp a drink)

   he's been necking pints all night

Derived Forms

• ˈnecker, noun

Other Words From

• necker noun
• neckless adjective
• necklike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of neck¹

before 900; Middle English nekke, Old English hnecca, cognate with Dutch nek nape of neck; akin to German Nacken, Old Norse hnakki nape of neck

Word History and Origins

Origin of neck¹

Old English hnecca; related to Old High German hnack, Old Irish cnocc hill

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be up to one's neck, Informal. to have a surfeit; be overburdened:

   Right now she's up to her neck in work.

2. break one's neck, Informal. to make a great effort:

   We broke our necks to get there on time.

3. get it in the neck, Slang.
   1. to suffer punishment or loss:

      The trend is to consolidation and small businesses are getting it in the neck.

   2. to be rejected or dismissed:

      The employees got it in the neck when the company moved overseas.

   3. to be sharply reprimanded or scolded.
4. neck and neck, even or very close; indeterminate as to the outcome:

   They were coming toward the finish line neck and neck.

5. neck of the woods, Informal. neighborhood, area, or vicinity:

   Next time you're in this neck of the woods, drop in.

6. 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.

7. win by a neck,
   1. to win by a small amount or narrow margin.
   2. 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

In the 2010s, a series of intermediate species called darwinopterans were found that revealed that the head and neck had changed first before the rest of the body.

From Science Daily

Jelly Roll, who has spent time in jail, promises a small tattoo - which turns out to be a big advert for the games on Prince Harry's neck.

From BBC

Covering the neck and head and dressing modestly became mandatory for women in Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

From BBC

One dives deep into the strained but anatomically accurate neck muscles and sharply delineated collar bones of St. Jerome, shown praying in the bleak wilderness.

From Los Angeles Times

He died in hospital from injuries to his neck.

From BBC

Related Words

• collar