neck
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Related to necks: Becks
neck
(nĕk)n.
1. Anatomy
a. The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders or trunk.
b. A narrow or constricted area of a bodily structure, as of a bone, that joins its parts; a cervix.
c. The part of a tooth between the crown and root.
2. The part of a garment around or near the neck.
3. A relatively narrow elongation, projection, or connecting part: a neck of land; the neck of a flask.
4. Music The narrow part along which the strings of an instrument extend to the pegs.
5. Printing See beard.
6. Geology Solidified lava filling the vent of an extinct volcano.
7. The siphon of a bivalve mollusk, such as a clam.
8. A narrow margin: won by a neck.
v. necked, neck·ing, necks
v.intr. Informal
To kiss and caress amorously.
v.tr.
Idioms: To strangle or decapitate (a fowl).
neck and neck
So close that the lead between competitors is virtually indeterminable.
up to (one's) neck
Deeply involved or occupied fully: I'm up to my neck in paperwork.
[Middle English nekke, from Old English hnecca.]
neck′less adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
neck
(nɛk)n
1. (Anatomy) the part of an organism connecting the head with the rest of the body.
2. (Clothing & Fashion) the part of a garment around or nearest the neck
3. something resembling a neck in shape or position: the neck of a bottle.
4. (Anatomy) anatomy a constricted portion of an organ or part, such as the cervix of the uterus
5. (Physical Geography) a narrow or elongated projecting strip of land; a peninsula or isthmus
6. (Physical Geography) a strait or channel
7. (Instruments) the part of a violin, cello, etc, that extends from the body to the tuning pegs and supports the fingerboard
8. (Geological Science) a solid block of lava from the opening of an extinct volcano, exposed after erosion of the surrounding rock
9. (Botany) botany the upper, usually tubular, part of the archegonium of mosses, ferns, etc
10. (Horse Racing) the length of a horse's head and neck taken as an approximate distance by which one horse beats another in a race: to win by a neck.
11. informal a short distance, amount, or margin: he is always a neck ahead in new techniques.
12. informal impudence; audacity: he had the neck to ask for a rise.
13. (Architecture) architect the narrow band at the top of the shaft of a column between the necking and the capital, esp as used in the Tuscan order
14. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) another name for beard, on printer's type
15. break one's neck informal to exert oneself greatly, esp by hurrying, in order to do something
16. by the neck slang Irish and Scot (of a bottle of beer) served unpoured: give me two bottles of stout by the neck.
17. get it in the neck informal to be reprimanded or punished severely
18. neck and neck absolutely level or even in a race or competition
19. neck of the woods informal an area or locality: a quiet neck of the woods.
20. risk one's neck to take a great risk
21. informal
a. save one's neck to escape from a difficult or dangerous situation
b. save someone's neck to help someone else escape from such a situation
22. stick one's neck out informal to risk criticism, ridicule, failure, etc, by speaking one's mind
23. up to one's neck in deeply involved in: he's up to his neck in dodgy dealings.
vb
24. (intr) informal to kiss, embrace, or fondle someone or one another passionately
25. (tr) informal Brit to swallow (something, esp a drink): he's been necking pints all night.
[Old English hnecca; related to Old High German hnack, Old Irish cnocc hill]
ˈnecker n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
neck
(nɛk)n.
1. the part of the body that connects the head and the trunk.
2. the part of a garment encircling, partly covering, or closest to the neck; neckline.
3. the slender part near the top of a bottle, vase, or similar object.
4. the long, slender part of a violin or similar stringed instrument, extending from the body to the head.
5. any narrow, connecting, or projecting part suggesting a neck.
6. a narrow strip of land, as an isthmus.
7. a strait; channel.
8. a narrowed part of a bone, organ, or the like.
9. the slightly narrowed region of a tooth between the crown and the root.
10. the approximate length of a horse's head and neck, as indicating a margin of victory in a race.
11. beard (def. 5).
12. the solidified lava or igneous rock filling a conduit leading either to a vent of an extinct volcano or to a laccolith.
v.i. 13. Informal. to embrace, kiss, and caress amorously.
v.t. 14. Informal. to embrace, kiss, and caress (someone) amorously.
15. to strangle or behead.
Idioms: 1. break one's neck, Informal. to make a great effort.
2. neck and neck, just even or very close: two horses crossing the finish line neck and neck.
[before 900; Middle English nekke, Old English hnecca, c. Dutch nek nape of neck; akin to German Nacken, nape of neck]
neck′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Neck
See Also: CHIN, CHEEKS, PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
- Adam’s apple bobbing like an eccentric toy —Robert Traver
- Adam’s apple bobbing like a fishing float —Andrew Kaplan
- Adam’s apple bobbing up and down like a prune seed in his throat —Calder Willingham
- Adam’s apple jumping up and down his throat like he got a ping-pong ball part way down and it got stuck —Carlos Baker
- The Adam’s apple of his thin, sinewy throat went up and down like a lift —Erich Maria Remarque
- The cords in his [a man who’s upset and angry] neck stick out like thumbs —Mary Hood
- Her neck is like a stately tower —Thomas Lodge
- Her neck rose [from folds of a shawl] like a column of slightly discolored Cararra marble —Arthur Train
- His Adam’s apple bulged so that when he drank it reminded Augustus of a snake with a frog stuck in its gullet —Larry McMurtry
- His Adam’s apple rippling up and down his skinny throat like a crazed mouse —James Crumley
- His Adam’s apple went up and down like an elevator —Cornell Woolrich
- Limp-necked like a faded daisy —Julia O’Faolain
- A long neck built like a tower —Colette
- The long, pale neck rising like a beam of light from his open shirt —Helen Hudson
- Neck … as a tower of ivory —The Holy Bible/Song of Solomon
- Neck as thick as a telephone pole —William Diehl
- Neck like a steel truss —Jonathan Valin
- Neck swiveled like a lazy susan —T. Coraghessan Boyle
- Neck … wrinkled like the wattles of some big bird —Anon
See Also: WRINKLES
- The sinews of his neck … stood out like a cord of a hoist —Arthur Train
- The skin of his neck, flabby and wrinkled like a turkey’s cockscomb —Romain Gary
- Thin neck like a goose —Jilly Cooper
- Two rings of age on her neck looked like a cheap necklace —V. S. Pritchett
- The veins in his thin white neck stood out like cords —Leo Tolstoy
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
neck
Past participle: necked
Gerund: necking
Imperative |
---|
neck |
neck |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() body, organic structure, physical structure - the entire structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being); "he felt as if his whole body were on fire" external body part - any body part visible externally dewlap - a hanging fold of loose skin on an elderly person's neck thymus gland, thymus - a ductless glandular organ at the base of the neck that produces lymphocytes and aids in producing immunity; atrophies with age arteria carotis, carotid artery - either of two major arteries of the neck and head; branches from the aorta areteria cervicalis, cervical artery - an artery that supplies the muscles of the neck trachea, windpipe - membranous tube with cartilaginous rings that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the bronchi bull neck - a thick short powerful neck pharynx, throat - the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone cervical vertebra, neck bone - one of 7 vertebrae in the human spine located in the neck region musculus sternocleidomastoideus, sternocleido mastoideus, sternocleidomastoid, sternocleidomastoid muscle - one of two thick muscles running from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid and occipital bone; turns head obliquely to the opposite side; when acting together they flex the neck and extend the head |
2. | neck - a narrow elongated projecting strip of land dry land, ground, solid ground, terra firma, earth, land - the solid part of the earth's surface; "the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land"; "the earth shook for several minutes"; "he dropped the logs on the ground" | |
3. | neck - a cut of meat from the neck of an animal cut of meat, cut - a piece of meat that has been cut from an animal carcass scrag - lean end of the neck | |
4. | neck - a narrow part of an artifact that resembles a neck in position or form; "the banjo had a long neck"; "the bottle had a wide neck" | |
5. | neck - an opening in a garment for the neck of the wearer; a part of the garment near the wearer's neck garment - an article of clothing; "garments of the finest silk" neckline - the line formed by the edge of a garment around the neck opening - a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made; "they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door" V neck - the neck of a garment has the shape in front of the letter V | |
Verb | 1. | ![]() pet - stroke or caress gently; "pet the lamb" do it, get it on, get laid, have a go at it, have intercourse, have it away, have it off, be intimate, lie with, roll in the hay, screw, sleep together, sleep with, hump, jazz, love, bed, bang, make out, know - have sexual intercourse with; "This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm"; "Adam knew Eve"; "Were you ever intimate with this man?" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
neck
noun
1. nape a short, stocky man with a thick neck
verb
neck and neck level, equal, side by side, close together, nip and tuck, level pegging (Brit.), even-stevens (informal) The two main parties were almost neck and neck in the polls.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
neck
verbInformal. To engage in kissing, caressing, and other amorous behavior:
Slang: make out.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
neck
[nek]A. N
1. [of person] → cuello m; [of animal] → pescuezo m, cuello m
the rain ran down my neck → la lluvia me corría por el cuello
to be neck and neck → ir parejos
the back of the neck → la nuca
to break one's neck (lit) → desnucarse
to break sb's neck (fig) → romper or partir el cuello a algn
to win by a neck → ganar por una cabeza
they threw him out neck and crop → le pusieron de patitas en la calle
she fell on his neck → se le colgó del cuello
to risk one's neck → jugarse el pellejo or el tipo
to save one's neck → salvar el pellejo or el tipo
to be in sth up to one's neck (trouble, plot etc) → estar metido hasta el cuello en algo
to be up to one's neck (in work) → estar hasta arriba de trabajo
to wring sb's neck (fig) → retorcer el pescuezo a algn
I'll wring your neck! → ¡te voy a retorcer el pescuezo!
to wring a chicken's neck → retorcer el pescuezo a un pollo
to breathe down sb's neck → no dejar a algn ni a sol ni a sombra
to have sb breathing down one's neck → tener a algn encima
to get it in the neck (= be punished) → cargársela; (= be told off) → llevarse una buena bronca or un buen rapapolvo
to stick one's neck out → arriesgarse
see also stiff A3
the rain ran down my neck → la lluvia me corría por el cuello
to be neck and neck → ir parejos
the back of the neck → la nuca
to break one's neck (lit) → desnucarse
to break sb's neck (fig) → romper or partir el cuello a algn
to win by a neck → ganar por una cabeza
they threw him out neck and crop → le pusieron de patitas en la calle
she fell on his neck → se le colgó del cuello
to risk one's neck → jugarse el pellejo or el tipo
to save one's neck → salvar el pellejo or el tipo
to be in sth up to one's neck (trouble, plot etc) → estar metido hasta el cuello en algo
to be up to one's neck (in work) → estar hasta arriba de trabajo
to wring sb's neck (fig) → retorcer el pescuezo a algn
I'll wring your neck! → ¡te voy a retorcer el pescuezo!
to wring a chicken's neck → retorcer el pescuezo a un pollo
to breathe down sb's neck → no dejar a algn ni a sol ni a sombra
to have sb breathing down one's neck → tener a algn encima
to get it in the neck (= be punished) → cargársela; (= be told off) → llevarse una buena bronca or un buen rapapolvo
to stick one's neck out → arriesgarse
see also stiff A3
4. (Geog) [of land] → istmo m
in your neck of the woods → por tu zona
in this neck of the woods → por estos pagos
in your neck of the woods → por tu zona
in this neck of the woods → por estos pagos
6. (Anat) [of uterus, bladder] → cuello m
7. (Brit) = nerve A4
B. VI [couple] → besuquearse
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
neck1
(nek) noun1. the part of the body between the head and chest. She wore a scarf around her neck.cuello
2. the part of an article of clothing that covers that part of the body. The neck of that shirt is dirty.cuello
3. anything like a neck in shape or position. the neck of a bottle.cuello
ˈnecklace (-ləs) noun a string of jewels, beads etc worn around the neck. a diamond necklace.collar
ˈneckline noun the edge of a piece of clothing at or around a person's neck. The dress has a very low neckline.escote
ˈnecktie noun (American) a man's tie. corbata
neck and neck (in a race) exactly equal. The horses were neck and neck as they came up to the finish. ir parejos
neck2
(nek) verb to kiss, hug and caress (passionately); to pet. besuquearse
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
neck
→ cuelloMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
neck
n. cuello, pescuezo.
1. parte del cuerpo que une la cabeza al tronco;
2. región de un diente entre la corona y la raíz.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
neck
n cuello; back of the — nucaEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.