neck

1 of 2

noun

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

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Bear Crawl How to: Start in a tabletop position with wrists under shoulders, knees under hips, and neck aligned with spine. Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 18 May 2023 However, most options feature the standard two or three button polo neck. Brad Lanphear, menshealth.com, 18 May 2023 Loughran woke up with neck pain and could not compete. Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2023 Weight bearing into the hands or forearms activates the serratus anterior, pecs and triceps as well as muscles of the neck and upper shoulders. Brett Williams, Men's Health, 18 May 2023 If anyone falls asleep, they'll get shocked by the collar that's attached to their necks. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 17 May 2023 Keaton is in a classic Keaton ensemble of a big hat, belt, and turtle neck. Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 Among the reforms are provisions outlawing the use of neck restraints, like that used by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin to kill George Floyd in May 2020. Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 16 May 2023 Her hair was slicked into a high pony with side bangs, and her cheeks were flush with baby-pink blush. Khloé looked amazing in a black sleeveless mock neck crop top, a black bodycon maxi skirt, and strappy stiletto sandals. Briannah Rivera, Seventeen, 16 May 2023
Verb
The 7mm-08 is just the 308 Win. necked down. Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2023 Made of flexible raffia, J.Crew’s best-selling wide-brim hat nails the classic, semi-floppy sun hat look while being totally functional, too — the brim gave my face and neck full sun coverage. Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2023 Fonda, Tomlin, Field and Moreno chatted about everything from the aging process to neck problems to sports stats after the screening. Malina Saval, Variety, 7 Jan. 2023 Non-electric scalp massagers can be used when applying shampoo or conditioner, while electronic models are typically used outside of the shower, and can often be used on your feet or neck too. Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 14 Dec. 2022 The rookie fifth-round pick played 40 defensive snaps in his NFL debut despite having missed the entire spring, training camp and preseason to neck surgery. Dallas News, 16 Nov. 2022 If your loved on has been experiencing back or neck pain due to their old mattress, a mattress topper may be the perfect gift. Deirdre Mundorf, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2021 Relieve back and neck pain and improve your posture. Mark Stock, Men's Health, 22 Nov. 2022 In this position, the right pillow keeps your head and neck straight with your spine. John Thompson, Men's Health, 8 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of neck was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near neck

Cite this Entry

“Neck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neck. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on neck

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