# collar

/ˈkɑɫɝ/ (US) · /kˈɒlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/collar
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. clothing

noun · CEFR A2

the part of a shirt, coat, or dress that goes around your neck.

For teachers: the part of a garment that fastens around or frames the neck.

- He straightened his collar in the mirror before the job interview.
- The designer opted for a stiff, high collar to give the evening jacket a more formal and structured appearance.

### 2. for animals

noun · CEFR A2

a band of leather or plastic that a pet wears around its neck.

For teachers: a strap or band, typically of leather or nylon, placed around the neck of an animal for identification or control.

- The dog's name and phone number were engraved on its silver collar.
- The trainer recommended a padded collar to ensure the greyhound's comfort during long walks through the park.

### 3. professional class

noun · CEFR B2

a way to describe types of jobs, like 'white-collar' for office work or 'blue-collar' for manual work.

For teachers: used in compounds to categorise socio-economic classes based on typical work attire.

- The town has many blue-collar workers who be employed at the local factory.
- Economists noted a significant shift from blue-collar manufacturing roles to white-collar service positions over the last decade.

### 4. an arrest

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

the act of catching a criminal or making an arrest.

For teachers: the apprehension or arrest of a suspect by law enforcement.

- The police made a big collar after chasing the thief for three blocks.
- The narcotics division celebrated the collar of a high-profile distributor after a six-month undercover operation.

### 5. to catch or stop someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to stop someone and make them listen to you, or to catch a criminal.

For teachers: to seize by the neck or clothing; by extension, to detain someone for conversation or to arrest them.

- I tried to leave the party, but my boss collared me to talk about a new project.
- The detective managed to collar the suspect just as he was attempting to board the international flight.

### 6. to prepare meat

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to roll up a piece of meat and tie it with string before cooking it.

For teachers: to roll up meat, such as pork or beef, and bind it securely with twine for curing or cooking.

- The recipe explains how to collar the pork belly before roasting it.
- Traditional British charcuterie often involves collaring various cuts of meat to ensure even curing and a distinctive sliced appearance.

## Examples

- He straightened his shirt collar before the interview.
- The dog's leather collar has a small metal tag with its owner's phone number on it.
- While the traditional dress code requires a stiff, formal collar, many modern offices now permit more relaxed styles that prioritize comfort over rigid professional aesthetics.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.