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

• belt
• corridor
• land
• part(s)
• region
• tract
• zone

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

The fall broke her neck, leaving her a quadriplegic. —Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024

The Heat will also open the playoffs without starting guard Terry Rozier, who has already missed six straight games with a neck injury, and reserve guard Josh Richardson, who is out for the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in early March. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024

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

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