Word
collarbone
Phoneticscol·lar·bone, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑɫɝˌboʊn/
UK/kˈɒləbˌəʊn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the long, thin bone that runs across the top of your chest, just below your neck. It connects your shoulder to your body.
n. the S-shaped bone that connects the shoulder to the sternum, forming the front part of the ribcage. It is a common site for fractures in sports or falls.
Examples
“She wore a low-cut shirt to show off her collarbone.”
“The athlete suffered a minor fracture to his collarbone after a collision during the final race.”
“In many mammals, the collarbone is vestigial or entirely absent, allowing for greater range of motion in the forelimbs, whereas in humans it provides structural support for the shoulder girdle.”
Examples
simple
“She wore a low-cut shirt to show off her collarbone.”
contextual
“The athlete suffered a minor fracture to his collarbone after a collision during the final race.”
complex
“In many mammals, the collarbone is vestigial or entirely absent, allowing for greater range of motion in the forelimbs, whereas in humans it provides structural support for the shoulder girdle.”
Real-World Examples
“For a deeper voice, men are encouraged to perform exercises known as neck crunches to strengthen their sternocleidomastoids —the long neck muscles running from the ear to the collarbone.” Etymology
From Middle English colar bane; equivalent to collar + bone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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