neck

noun \ ˈnek \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Examples: neck in a Sentence

Definition of neck

1 a (1) : the part of an animal that connects the head with the body

(2) : the siphon of a bivalve mollusk (such as a clam)

b : the part of a garment that covers or is next to the neck

2 : a relatively narrow part suggestive of a neck: such as

a (1) : the constricted end of a bottle

(2) : the slender proximal end of a fruit

b : cervix 2

c : the part of a stringed musical instrument extending from the body and supporting the fingerboard and strings

d : a narrow stretch of land

e : strait 1b

f : the part of a tooth between the crown and the root — see tooth illustration

g : a column of solidified magma of a volcanic pipe or laccolith

3 : a narrow margin

won by a neck

4 : region, part

my neck of the woods

See neck defined for English-language learners

See neck defined for kids

Examples of neck in a Sentence

She craned her neck to see what was going on.
A giraffe is an animal with a very long neck.
He broke his neck in the accident.
He likes T-shirts with round necks.
He grabbed the neck of the bottle.

Recent Examples of neck from the Web

Drew Bosley, Homestead The 2017 Division 1 cross country champion, Bosley hung a couple more gold medals around his neck at the state track and field meet.

— curt hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The 8 stars of spring: Homestead's Drew Bosley, Whitnall's Haley Wynn among the best and brightest from 2018 spring sports," 18 June 2018
Die Mannschaft’ for the third time in a World Cup, coming into the tournament with a winner’s medal having previously been around his neck.

— SI.com, "World Cup Preview: Germany v Mexico - Recent Form, Managers, Team News, Predictions & More," 16 June 2018
Atop one boy's pillow lay a teddy bear, a bow around its neck and a smile on its upward turned face.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Inside Casa Padre, the converted Walmart where the US is holding nearly 1,500 immigrant children," 14 June 2018
The sole survivor of the shooting, a man named Marcus Hurd who had shown up that night to buy marijuana from Martin, was left paralyzed from the neck down.

— maria cramer, BostonGlobe.com, "New trial sought for man jailed in Mattapan deaths," 10 June 2018
The core four members were joined by back-up on keys and percussion for some of the new stuff, which enabled Turner to free his hands from the neck of his own instrument for a spell and focus entirely on connecting with the audience.

— hilary hughes, Billboard, "Arctic Monkeys Incite A Joyous Riot at Royal Albert Hall For War Child Benefit," 9 June 2018
Wearing the medal around her neck, Aaliyah thanked the commission for its decision to honor her.

— josh magness, charlotteobserver, "10-year-old honored after she took a bullet for baby brother in a Walmart parking lot," 8 June 2018
Survivor Sarah Salazar, 16, who suffered wounds from her neck to her thigh, got a bedside visit from the 37-year-old pop star on Friday afternoon.

— kim willis, USA TODAY, "Surprise! Justin Timberlake makes bedside visit to Santa Fe school shooting survivor," 28 May 2018
The victim was taken to an area hospital for an injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down, Naik said.

— william lee, chicagotribune.com, "Bail denied for man suspected of hit-and-run on West Side," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neck.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of neck

Middle English nekke, from Old English hnecca; akin to Old High German hnac nape

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

neck Synonyms

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

neck

verb

Definition of neck

transitive verb

1 : to kiss and caress amorously

2 : to reduce in diameter

intransitive verb

1 : to engage in amorous kissing and caressing

2 : to become constricted : narrow

See neck defined for English-language learners

Examples of neck in a Sentence

The young lovers necked on the park bench.
They were necking in the corner of the room.

Recent Examples of neck from the Web

That improvement will help address bottle-necking around the small streets of Gilbert's popular downtown.

— lily altavena, azcentral, "Parks, roads and more: 7 projects on the horizon for Gilbert taxpayers," 10 May 2018
Long-necked with eyelashes to die for just like her parents, the baby giraffe's umbilical cord was still attached on Tuesday.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Zoo's latest resident is 6 feet, 1 inch of adorableness," 22 May 2018
In one corner, a business-casual couple were necking in a cozy booth over white wine and small plates of charred swordfish.

— tas tobey, New York Times, "New Speakeasy Memorializes an Old-School Journalist Haunt," 31 Jan. 2018
There’s the annual molt, during which even the crows are disheveled and pencil-necked.

— murr brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why every writer needs a tree," 13 Sep. 2017
Researchers on Wednesday described fossils of a long-necked, four-legged, meat-eating reptile called Teleocrater rhadinus.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Secret White House Visits: Now Easier Than Ever!," 14 Apr. 2017
There's a lot of rubber-necking going on because fans on both sides are into what's happening with the programs.

— john canzano, OregonLive.com, "Ducks and Beavers football programs provide summer fireworks," 19 May 2017

First Known Use of neck

1842

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

NECK Defined for English Language Learners

neck

noun

Definition of neck for English Language Learners

: the part of the body between the head and the shoulders
: the part of a piece of clothing that fits around your neck
: a long and narrow part of something : a part that is shaped like a neck

neck

verb

Definition of neck for English Language Learners

: to kiss for a long time in a sexual way

NECK Defined for Kids

neck

noun \ ˈnek \

Definition of neck for Students

1 : the part of the body between the head and the shoulders

2 : the section of a garment covering or nearest to the part connecting the head with the body

3 : something that is long and narrow or that connects two larger parts

a neck of land

the neck of a bottle

—

necked

\ˈnekt\ adjective

— neck and neck

: so nearly equal (as in a race or election) that one cannot be said to be ahead of the other

Medical Dictionary

neck

noun \ ˈnek \

medical Definition of neck

1 a : the usually narrowed part of an animal that connects the head with the body; specifically : the cervical region of a vertebrate

b : the part of a tapeworm immediately behind the scolex from which new proglottids are produced

2 : a relatively narrow part suggestive of a neck: as

a : a narrow part of a bone

the neck of the femur

b : cervix 2

c : the part of a tooth between the crown and the root

Illustration of neck

Learn More about neck

See words that rhyme with neck Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for neck Spanish Central: Translation of neck Nglish: Translation of neck for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of neck for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neck

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neck

Definition of neck

Examples of neck in a Sentence

Recent Examples of neck from the Web

Origin and Etymology of neck

neck Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Anatomy Terms

neck

Definition of neck

Examples of neck in a Sentence

Recent Examples of neck from the Web

First Known Use of neck

Phrases Related to NECK

Related Phrases

NECK Defined for English Language Learners

neck

Definition of neck for English Language Learners

neck

Definition of neck for English Language Learners

NECK Defined for Kids

neck

Definition of neck for Students

necked

Medical Dictionary

neck

medical Definition of neck

Illustration of neck

Learn More about neck

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