# neck

/ˈnɛk/ (US) · /nˈɛk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/neck
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. anatomy

noun · CEFR A2

the part of the body that joins the head to the shoulders.

For teachers: the part of the body connecting the head and the trunk in humans and many vertebrates.

- He wore a warm scarf around his neck to protect himself from the cold wind.
- The patient complained of a persistent stiffness in her neck, likely caused by poor posture during long hours at her desk.

### 2. clothing

noun · CEFR B1

the part of a piece of clothing that goes around your neck.

For teachers: the part of a garment, such as a shirt or sweater, that fits around the wearer's neck.

- The neck of this sweater is a bit too tight for me.
- She preferred a V-neck design, as it provided more comfort and a more flattering silhouette than a traditional crew neck.

### 3. narrow part of an object

noun · CEFR B2

the narrow part of an object, like a bottle or a guitar.

For teachers: a narrow or tapered section of an object, typically near the top or end.

- He held the wine bottle by the neck as he poured the drinks.
- The luthier carefully sanded the neck of the guitar to ensure the musician could move their hand smoothly between frets.

### 4. narrow land

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a narrow piece of land that sticks out into the water or connects two larger areas.

For teachers: a long, narrow tract of land projecting from a main body or connecting two larger landmasses.

- The lighthouse was built on a narrow neck of land reaching into the sea.
- The army was forced to retreat across a thin neck of land, making them vulnerable to naval bombardment from both sides.

### 6. to drink quickly

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

to drink something very quickly, often in one go.

For teachers: to swallow or drink a liquid rapidly, especially an alcoholic beverage.

- He necked his pint of beer and stood up to leave.
- After the toast, the guests necked their champagne and headed toward the dance floor.

## Examples

- She wore a warm scarf around her neck.
- The guitarist moved his hand quickly up the neck of the instrument to play the high notes.
- The surgeon noted a slight swelling in the patient's neck, suggesting that the lymph nodes were responding to a localized infection.

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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.