ENGLISH
REFERENCE

throat

n.
US //ˈθɹoʊt// UK //θɹˈəʊt// throat
  1. 1 anatomy (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    the passage in the neck through which food and air pass.

    the passage from the back of the mouth to the lungs and stomach, including the pharynx and esophagus.

    Example

    She had a sore throat and found it difficult to swallow her tea.

    Example

    The doctor examined the patient's throat for signs of inflammation or bacterial infection before prescribing antibiotics.
    • gullet
    • pharynx
  2. 2 front of the neck (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the front part of the neck.

    the anterior portion of the neck, containing the structures for breathing and swallowing.

    Example

    He wrapped a warm scarf around his throat to protect himself from the cold wind.

    Example

    The athlete felt a sudden constriction in his throat as the adrenaline of the final lap took hold.
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  1. 3 narrow opening (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Technical

    a narrow passage or opening in an object, like a chimney or a bottle.

    a narrow or constricted part of a passage, vessel, or architectural feature.

    Example

    The worker cleaned the throat of the chimney to make sure the smoke could escape.

    Example

    Engineers modified the throat of the nozzle to increase the velocity of the fluid as it exited the chamber.
  2. 4 botany (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the opening of a tubular flower.

    the opening of a tubular corolla or calyx in a flower.

    Example

    The bee crawled deep into the throat of the flower to reach the nectar.

    Example

    The botanical illustration clearly marked the throat of the corolla, highlighting the unique patterns that attract specific pollinators.
Origin

From Middle English throte, from Old English þrote, þrota, þrotu (“throat”), from Proto-West Germanic þrotu, from Proto-Germanic þrutō (“throat”), from Proto-Indo-European *trud- (“to swell, become stiff”). Cognate with Dutch strot (“throat”), German Drossel (“throttle, gorge of game (wild animals)”), Faroese troti (“swelling”), Icelandic þroti (“swelling”), Norwegian trut (“mouth”), Swedish trut.

Word family
Idioms11 entries

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