throat

noun

\ˈthrōt

Definition of throat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : the part of the neck in front of the spinal column

(2) : the passage through the neck to the stomach and lungs

b(1) : voice

(2) : the seat of the voice

2 : something resembling the throat especially in being an entrance, a passageway, a constriction, or a narrowed part: such as

a : the orifice of a tubular organ especially of a plant

b : the opening in the vamp of a shoe at the instep

c : the part of a tennis racket that connects the head with the shaft

3 : the curved part of an anchor's arm where it joins the shank — see anchor illustration

at each other's throats

: in open and aggressive conflict

throat

verb

throated; throating; throats

Definition of throat (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to utter in the throat : mutter

2 : to sing or enunciate in a throaty voice

Examples of throat in a Sentence

Noun

My throat was dry so I took a sip of water. He held a knife to her throat. His shirt was open at the throat. He grabbed her by the throat.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The initial symptoms will most likely appear on the genitals, but can also form on cheeks, lips, gums, or in the throat. — Bartie Scott, Teen Vogue, "Rare "Flesh-Eating" STI Donovanosis Discovered in the U.K.," 23 Aug. 2018 Kelley was strangling the woman and threatening to cut her throat when the woman's 12-year-old son retrieved the revolver, according to the news release. — Jonathan Drew, Fox News, "DA: Teen who stopped attack was taught to shoot by late dad," 18 Aug. 2018 The camel’s rotating chew distributes pressure from the cactus and the papillae slide the needles vertically down the throat. — Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, "This is How Camels Can Eat Spikey Cacti," 30 May 2018 Then, if the condition is left untreated, pus-containing tissue moves from the throat to different organs, usually the lungs. — Korin Miller, SELF, "A 23-Year-Old College Student Died From Lemierre Syndrome, a Rare Infection She Thought Was Tonsillitis," 6 Nov. 2018 Then, the woman told deputies, Lindsey armed himself with a knife and held her by the throat before dragging her into the living room as their son slipped from her grasp and onto the floor. — Jeff Weiner, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Children killed in Orlando standoff: Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr. had history of violence, arrests," 12 June 2018 The high-anxiety wreck-fest had fans on the edge of their seats, drivers at each other’s throats and team owners reaching for Tums as the dangers of oval racing became all too real. — Jim Ayello, Indianapolis Star, "IndyCar Texas preview: Why more mayhem could be on tap, and Will Power could win," 7 June 2018 When a Michigan man turned up at the hospital in March claiming someone shot him in the throat with an arrow, police were quick to pick up an investigation. — Scott Berson, charlotteobserver, "He told cops someone shot him with an arrow. Now he's the one who could go to jail," 4 June 2018 Other shows in the genre, like Fear the Walking Dead, tend to quickly set characters at each other’s throats in an effort to show that civilization is a kind of communal dream, easily cast aside in favor of barbarism. — Asher Elbein, The Atlantic, "The Terror Is More Than a Chilling Monster Show," 1 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

By the time the final horn sounded and the Penguins’ 2-1 series lead was official and Crosby’s name was announced as the game’s first star, there were barely enough fans left for a weak-throated boo. — Mike Sielski, Philly.com, "Sidney Crosby once again leaves the Flyers and their fans all wet | Mike Sielski," 16 Apr. 2018 Outside analysts say the 51-year-old state senator faces a difficult choice about how full-throated a campaign to wage against the popular, 84-year-old incumbent. — Sarah D. Wire, latimes.com, "De León's challenge in the Senate race: to oppose Feinstein but keep his future intact," 15 June 2018 The dawn chorus was productive, though, providing grasshopper sparrow, scarlet tanager, summer tanager and yellow-throated vireo, to name a few. — Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Goal for a Big Day: Count as many bird species as you can find | Charlotte Observer," 14 May 2018 The result is a crowded stage—the choreography resembles a packed aerobics class—and the biggest, richest, most full-throated sound the show's likely ever had. — Deanna Isaacs, Chicago Reader, "Lyric’s Jesus Christ is, indeed, a superstar," 1 May 2018 Ryan Hartman to Nashville, Michal Kempny to Washington, Tommy Wingels to Boston—though not as full-throated as the Rangers. — Alex Prewitt, SI.com, "Original Six Outsiders: Trying to Make Sense of Meaningless March Hockey," 27 Mar. 2018 What’s most memorable about the novel, however, is the unadulterated, feminist voice, rarely found so full-throated in mainstream novels. — Anita Felicelli, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Girls Burn Brighter,’ by Shobha Rao," 21 Mar. 2018 Not against Houston — the Cougars still ran the ball down the Owls’ throats a number of times, finding driving lanes too easily. — Mike Jensen, Philly.com, "Big Ivy League game coming up for Penn, just not must-win | City Six Observations," 20 Feb. 2018 An audience of 900 Brits sang along, full throated and word perfect. — John Lithgow, New York Times, "John Lithgow, on Barnstorming His Way to Broadway," 9 Jan. 2018

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