neck

1 of 2

noun

ˈnek 

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 sense 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 entry 1 sense 1a

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

neck

2 of 2

verb

necked; necking; necks

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

Synonyms

Noun

• region
• land
• part(s)
• tract

Examples of neck in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Verb

The young lovers necked on the park bench.

They were necking in the corner of the room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

How the heart freckle tattoo got started Smith did her first heart freckle tattoo around two years ago, for a client who wanted a line of them trailing down her neck. —Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025

This buttery-looking Free People sweater has a mock neck and a particularly autumnal hue, and these 45-percent-off Levi’s jeans balance out its stylishly slouchy look. —Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 8 July 2025

Verb

These structures provide support to your back and neck and help improve your overall posture. —Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025

To prevent this from occurring, maintain proper posture—with your shoulders down and neck and back straight. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1842, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing neck

• break one's neck
• breathe down one's neck
• breathe down someone's neck
• bull neck
• cowl-neck
• crew neck
• dead from the neck up
• ewe-neck
• get it in the neck
• neck and neck
• neck-deep
• neck gaiter
• neck of the woods
• neck-rein
• pain in the neck
• polo-neck
• ring-neck
• risk one's neck
• roll-neck
• save someone's bacon/hide/neck/skin
• stick one's neck out
• strain one's neck
• up to one's neck in
• V-neck
• wring someone's neck

Rhymes for neck

• beck
• breck
• check
• cheque
• czech
• deck
• fleck
• keck
• mech
• peck
• reck
• sec

Kids Definition

neck

noun

ˈnek

1

: the part of the body connecting the head and the main part of the body

2

: the part of a garment covering or nearest to the neck

3

a

: something like a neck in shape or position

the neck of a bottle

a neck of land

b

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

necked

ˈnekt

adjective

Medical Definition

neck

noun

ˈnek 

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 sense 2

c

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