neck
gb/nˈɛk/ us/nˈɛk/
A1
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Part of body between head and torso
The part of your body between your head and your shoulders.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s neck
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'neck' with 'throat', but 'throat' is specifically the front inside part used for swallowing and breathing.
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.)
Collocations
stiff neck
|neck pain
|long neck
|break your neck
|rub your neck
Themes
anatomy
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wore a scarf around her neck.
- He turned his neck to see who was behind him.
- A mosquito bit me on the back of my neck.
- The doctor examined his neck for swelling.
Learner examples
- My neck hurts.
- He has a long neck.
- She puts cream on her neck.
- I have a red mark on my neck.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Narrow connecting part of an object
The thin part of something that connects two bigger parts.
Usage pattern:
the neck of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'neck' can be used for objects, not just people or animals.
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.)
Collocations
neck of a bottle
|neck of land
|guitar neck
Themes
objects
|geometry
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He gripped the neck of the bottle firmly.
- The guitar's neck was made of maple.
- A small road runs through the narrow neck of land between the lakes.
Learner examples
- Hold the bottle by its neck.
- The guitar has a long neck.
- We crossed a neck of land.
Verb
informal
B2
action
3
Kiss and caress romantically
To kiss and hold someone in a romantic way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] neck [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners might think this verb means 'strangle' or 'hit on the neck', but it actually refers to romantic kissing.
Synonyms
make out (Informal term for kissing and touching romantically; broader than just kissing on the neck.)
Collocations
necking in the park
|couple necking
Themes
relationships
|romance
Examples
- They were necking in the back row of the cinema.
- Teenagers often hang out in the park, talking and necking.
- The couple spent the evening dancing and necking.
Learner examples
- They are necking in the park.
- The couple was necking on the sofa.
- I saw two people necking at the party.
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.