collar

verb

collared; collaring; collars

transitive verb

1

a

: to seize by the collar or neck

b

: arrest, grab

c

: to get control of : preempt

… we can collar nearly the whole of this market!

—Roald Dahl

d

: to stop and detain in unwilling conversation

collar the guest of honor

2

: to put a collar on

collar a dog

Synonyms of collar

• arrest
• seize
• grab

Examples of collar in a Sentence

The police collared the guy a few blocks from the scene.

He collared me on my way out the door.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fish and Wildlife will now assess the animal and, if healthy, it will be collared and released into the nearest suitable habitat within the Santa Monica Mountains, the Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

The video, from a traffic stop of a white Volvo semi in a rural area on May 18, shows officers pulling the vehicle over before the driver descends from the cab and attempts to run away, crossing a set of train tracks before being quickly collared by law enforcement. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026

State wildlife officials captured and collared her in May 2025 within the Yowlumni Pack’s territory. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 18 May 2026

At least one wolf died during a collaring operation, according to previous Bee reporting. —Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

derivative of collar entry 1

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing collar

• blue-collar
• brass collar Democrat
• clerical collar
• collar cell
• dog collar
• E-collar
• electronic collar
• Elizabethan collar
• Eton collar
• flea collar
• green-collar
• hot under the collar
• loosen one's collar
• mandarin collar
• Peter Pan collar
• pink-collar
• radio collar
• Roman collar
• sailor collar
• shawl collar
• white-collar
• white-collar crime
• wing collar

Rhymes for collar

• caller
• choler
• crawler
• dollar
• faller
• haller
• hauler
• holler
• scholar
• smaller
• squalor
• taller

Kids Definition

collar

1 of 2 noun

col·​lar ˈkäl-ər 

1

a

: a band, strip, or chain worn around the neck or the neckline of a garment

b

: a part of the harness of draft animals fitted over the shoulders

2

: something (as a ring to hold something in place) resembling a collar

collared

-ərd 

adjective

collarless

-ər-ləs 

adjective

collar

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to seize by the collar

b

: to take possession of : grab

2

: to put a collar on

Medical Definition

collar

noun

col·​lar ˈkäl-ər 

: a protective or supporting device (such as a brace or cast) worn around the neck