neck
gb/nˈɛk/ us/nˈɛk/
A1
English
~ 1700
nyak, smárol, csókolózik
NOUN
A1
1
nyak
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s neck
She wore a scarf around her neck.
Sálat viselt a nyakában.
He turned his neck to see who was behind him.
Elfordította a nyakát, hogy lássa, ki van mögötte.
A mosquito bit me on the back of my neck.
The doctor examined his neck for swelling.
Learner examples
My neck hurts.
Fáj a nyakam.
He has a long neck.
Hosszú nyaka van.
She puts cream on her neck.
I have a red mark on my neck.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'neck' with 'throat', but 'throat' is specifically the front inside part used for swallowing and breathing.
Meaning
Part of body between head and torso
Collocations
stiff neck
|neck pain
|long neck
|break your neck
|rub your neck
Synonyms
throat (Refers to the front part of the neck, especially the passage inside for air and food.)
Antonyms
waist (The narrow part of the body between the chest and hips, opposite end from the neck.)
Themes
anatomy
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The part of your body between your head and your shoulders.
The part of the body that connects the head to the shoulders and torso.
NOUN
B1
2
nyak
B1
Usage pattern:
the neck of [something]
He gripped the neck of the bottle firmly.
Erősen megfogta a palack nyakát.
The guitar's neck was made of maple.
A gitár nyaka juharfából készült.
A small road runs through the narrow neck of land between the lakes.
Learner examples
Hold the bottle by its neck.
A nyakánál fogd meg a palackot.
The guitar has a long neck.
A gitárnak hosszú nyaka van.
We crossed a neck of land.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'neck' can be used for objects, not just people or animals.
Meaning
Narrow connecting part of an object
Collocations
neck of a bottle
|neck of land
|guitar neck
Synonyms
narrow section (General term for a thin connecting part, not specific to shape.)
Antonyms
base (The bottom or widest part of an object, opposite of a narrow connecting part.)
Themes
objects
|geometry
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The thin part of something that connects two bigger parts.
A narrow section of something that joins two wider parts, resembling the shape of a human neck.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
smárol
B2
csókolózik
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] neck [someone]
They were necking in the back row of the cinema.
A mozi hátsó sorában smároltak.
Teenagers often hang out in the park, talking and necking.
A tinédzserek gyakran lógnak a parkban, beszélgetnek és smárolnak.
The couple spent the evening dancing and necking.
Learner examples
They are necking in the park.
A parkban smárolnak.
The couple was necking on the sofa.
A pár a kanapén smárolt.
I saw two people necking at the party.
Common mistake:
Learners might think this verb means 'strangle' or 'hit on the neck', but it actually refers to romantic kissing.
Meaning
Kiss and caress romantically
Collocations
necking in the park
|couple necking
Synonyms
make out (Informal term for kissing and touching romantically; broader than just kissing on the neck.)
Themes
relationships
|romance
Definition
To kiss and hold someone in a romantic way.
To embrace and kiss someone in a romantic or sexual way, especially on the neck and face.
Grammar
Dictionary form
neck
IPA
GB/nˈɛk/
US/nˈɛk/
Syllables & stress
neck (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (neck)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: neck
- Plural: neck, necks
Verb
- Base: neck
- 3rd Person Singular: necks
- Present Participle: necking
- Past: necked
Word family
Forms
necks
noun
necking
verb
necked
verb
Related words
Expressions
break your neck to [do something]
1/bɹˈeɪk jˈʊɹ nˈɛk tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Make great effort to do something
To try very hard to do something quickly or well.
Examples
- He broke his neck to finish the project on time.
- Don't break your neck trying to please everyone.
breathe down someone's neck
1/bɹˈið dˈaʊn sˈʌmwˌʌnz nˈɛk/
idiom
informal
Watch closely and pressure someone
To watch someone too closely, making them feel pressure or stress.
Examples
- I can't work with my boss breathing down my neck all day.
- Stop breathing down my neck—I'll finish when I'm ready.
stick your neck out
1/stˈɪk jˈʊɹ nˈɛk ˈaʊt/
idiom
informal
Take a personal risk
To do or say something that might cause trouble for you because it is risky.
Examples
- She really stuck her neck out to defend him at the meeting.
- I'm not going to stick my neck out for someone I barely know.
up to your neck in [something]
1/ˈʌp tə jˈʊɹ nˈɛk ˈɪn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Very involved or busy with something
To have too much work or too many problems to deal with.
Examples
- I'm up to my neck in paperwork this week.
- She's up to her neck in debt after losing her job.
pain in the neck
1/pˈeɪn ˈɪn ðə nˈɛk/
idiom
informal
very annoying person or thing
A person or thing that is very annoying.
Examples
- This paperwork is a real pain in the neck.
- That printer is such a pain in the neck—it never works when you need it.
- My neighbor is such a pain in the neck.
- My little brother can be a real pain in the neck sometimes.