throat

noun \ ˈthrōt \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Definition of throat

1 a (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

See throat defined for English-language learners

See throat defined for kids

Examples of throat in a Sentence

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 of throat from the Web

That’s what happens in vaginal yeast infections, for instance, and also in infections that bloom in the mouth and throat or bloodstream when the immune system breaks down.

— maryn mckenna, WIRED, "The Strange and Curious Case of the Deadly Superbug Yeast," 13 July 2018
In people with the condition, throat and tongue muscles relax and block the airway during sleep, caused by obesity, aging or facial structure.

— Washington Post, "New ways to conquer sleep apnea compete for place in bedroom," 12 July 2018
And the story’s signature sequence, in which Edward woos his future wife by conjuring a field of daffodils, is throat-catchingly romantic, with flowers blooming on the walls while the cast carries in more.

— daryl h. miller, latimes.com, "Review: A life told in tall tales; 'Big Fish' at the Chance Theater," 12 July 2018
Scientists had thought the steam explosions resulted from lava at the summit dropping down the volcano's throat into groundwater.

— terray sylvester and jolyn rosa, The Christian Science Monitor, "Scientists brave dangers studying active Hawaii volcano," 11 July 2018
Some attribute the rise in the body’s core temperature, while others theorize there are thermosensors lining the mouth and throat that may trigger additional sweating.

— anna thomas bates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "On a hot day, this quinoa salad can cool you down - without overheating your kitchen," 11 July 2018
The six men puffing up their throats like angry birds were not dancers.

— roslyn sulcas, New York Times, "Harry Potter Doesn’t Dance. But He Sure Can Move.," 10 July 2018
Every season, there are memorable moments where queens go at each others’ throats with specifically catered reads, whether it’s in the reading mini-challenge, on the mainstage of the competition, or more often than not, backstage during Untucked.

— stephen daw, Billboard, "10 of the Best Reads in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Herstory," 2 July 2018
Side effects may include blurred vision, constipation, burning and itchy skin, head and throat pain, and dry mouth, eyes, and skin.

— brittany shoot, Fortune, "FDA Approves Qbrexza, the First-Ever Prescription Treatment for Excessive Sweating," 2 July 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.