neck

noun \ ˈnek \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

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

Alzheimer’s has long been one of the heaviest therapeutic albatrosses slung round drug developers’ necks.

— sy mukherjee, Fortune, "Researchers Just Proposed a Radical New Way of Defining Alzheimer's. Could It Lead to Better Drugs?," 10 Apr. 2018
Crunch up, lifting arms and legs to meet (lead with your abs, not your neck).

— Health.com, "Tracy Anderson's 5 Moves to Sculpt a Lean, Sexy Stomach," 10 Apr. 2018
Scans of his head and neck showed the kind of constriction in some arteries that can cause intense headaches, doctors reported on Monday in BMJ Case Reports.

— author: james gorman, Anchorage Daily News, "He ate the world’s hottest pepper, then landed in the hospital with ‘thunderclap’ headaches," 10 Apr. 2018
The premise of the sketch is that most of the guys get the usual pampering — the macho fantasy of watching sports while women massage their thick necks (how is this still a thing out there?).

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "Second City e.t.c.'s 'Gaslight District' has fun with Uber Pool and Sport Clips but goes a little light on the satire," 9 Apr. 2018
Scans of his head and neck showed the kind of constriction in some arteries that can cause intense headaches, doctors reported on Monday in BMJ Case Reports.

— james gorman, New York Times, "He Ate the World’s Hottest Pepper, Then Landed in the Hospital With ‘Thunderclap’ Headaches," 9 Apr. 2018
Not all of the sparklers at Dolce & Gabbana’s incredible Alta Gioielleria fete at the New York Public Library last night—the kick-off of four days of not-stop fashion, fun, and largesse—encircled wrists and necks.

— laird borrelli-persson, Vogue, "See the Exquisite, One-of-a-Kind Jewels from Dolce & Gabbana’s Latest Alta Gioielleria Collection Here," 7 Apr. 2018
Whatever happened, Lillian Booth’s neck was broken, severing her spinal cord.

— paula allen, San Antonio Express-News, "Jefferson High Lassos were featured in a 1940 movie starring Jane Withers," 7 Apr. 2018
Court papers say Mouhib used the knife to stab the boy in the upper back then cut his neck, severing his head.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Police: Mom used kitchen knife to decapitate 7-year-old son," 6 Apr. 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

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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