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

Taurus also rules the throat, which is where Adele’s talents clearly shine. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "What Michelle Obama's Horoscope Has In Store for Her This International Women's Day," 8 Mar. 2019 From the start, Goop’s focus included wellness, a lifestyle that had called to Paltrow since her father, director Bruce Paltrow, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998. — Elisa Lipsky-karasz, WSJ, "Gwyneth Paltrow Wants to Convert You," 4 Dec. 2018 The news comes a little over a year after the reality star revealed she was diagnosed with throat cancer. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Star Beth Chapman's Cancer Has Returned," 28 Nov. 2018 But rates of throat cancer increased 2.7 percent each year among men and 0.8 percent annually for women. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Throat and Anal Cancers Caused by HPV Are on the Rise—Here's How to Stay Safe," 24 Aug. 2018 Except, at about the same time, physicians in South Korea were called on to treat two hospital patients, a 1-year-old boy with a blood-cell disorder and a 74-year-old man with throat cancer. — Maryn Mckenna, WIRED, "The Strange and Curious Case of the Deadly Superbug Yeast," 13 July 2018 Long-term exposure is known to cause leukemia and nose and throat cancer. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Formaldehyde causes cancer. The EPA doesn’t want to acknowledge it.," 6 July 2018 The prosecutor alleges Sugrue pulled Eliseu from his bed onto the floor and began attacking him repeatedly by stepping on his throat and choking him. — Malini Basu, ajc, "Gay man beaten, held captive for 4 days by angry teenager, police say," 3 July 2018 Your esophagus is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Do You Actually Swallow a Bunch of Spiders When You Sleep?," 8 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

His head bleeding, his eyes burning, his mouth and throat raw from salt water, the future 41st President of the United States was alone. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Jon Meacham's Eulogy for George H.W. Bush: Read What the President's Biographer Had to Say," 5 Dec. 2018 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

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.