Pronunciation

/nek/

Definitions

• Noun: The part of the body that connects the head to the shoulders, supporting the head and containing blood vessels, nerves, and other structures such as the esophagus and trachea. Example: “She wore a necklace around her neck.”
• Noun (figurative): The narrowest or most vulnerable part of something, often referring to a passage or route. Example: “The ship navigated through the narrow neck of the harbor.”
• Verb: To reduce the size of something at its neck; to make narrower or tighter at this point. Example: “She necked the bottle by breaking it open.”
• Verb (informal): To embrace or kiss someone affectionately around the neck. Example: “The couple were necking on the park bench.”
• Adjective: Of or relating to the neck. Example: “He has a strong neck for holding up his heavy head.”

Phrases

• “Break one’s neck”: To try extremely hard to do something, often with haste. Example: “She was breaking her neck to finish the project on time.”
• “Neck and neck”: When two or more competitors are so close together that they appear to be level. Example: “The race was neck and neck until the final lap.”
• “Stick one’s neck out”: To take a risk or put oneself in a vulnerable position by expressing an opinion or taking action. Example: “I don’t want to stick my neck out, but I think we should consider another approach.”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The giraffe’s long neck helps it reach leaves high up in the trees.”
• Verb: “He carefully necked the glass bottle before recycling it.”
• Adjective: “The shirt featured a high neck design to protect against the sun.”

Synonyms

• throat (for the anatomical part)
• collarbone area
• cervix (anatomically, referring to the neck of the uterus)
• narrowing (for the figurative sense)
• hug (for the informal verb meaning)