I. ˈthrōt, usu -ōd.+V noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English throte, from Old English throte, throtu; akin to Old High German drozza throat, Old Norse throti swelling, thrūtna to swell, Old English thrūtian
1.
a.
(1) : the part of the neck in front of the spinal column
(2) : the passage through it to the stomach and lungs containing the pharynx and upper part of the esophagus, the larynx, and the trachea
b. : voice or the seat of the voice
the nightingale poured out his throat in song
2. : something felt to resemble the throat especially in being an entrance, a passageway, a constriction, or a narrowed part
the throat of a vase
the narrow throat of a stream
as
a. : the part of a chimney (as of a house) between the portion of the funnel that contracts in ascending (as above a hearth) and the flue proper ; also : a similar part of an industrial flue system (as of a metallurgical furnace)
b. : a groove or channel on the underside of a projection (as a stringcourse or coping) that prevents water from running back into the wall
c.
(1) : the inside of a timber knee of a ship — compare breech
(2) : the end of a gaff next to the mast
(3) : the upper fore corner of a staysail or of a fore-and-aft sail
(4) : the curved part of an anchor's arm where it joins the shank — see anchor illustration
d. : the orifice of a tubular organ especially of a plant ; usually : the spreading upper part of the tube of a gamopetalous corolla or calyx
e. : a gullet or clearance space at the bottom of a sawtooth
f.
(1) : the narrowest place between the wing rails of a railroad frog
(2) : the curved space between the flange and tread of a car wheel
(3) : the point at which a railroad line enters or leaves a yard and from which the yard tracks branch out — called also choke point
g. : a gap in the frame behind the tool in a punching, shearing, vertical-boring, or similar machine the depth of which limits the size of the work taken
h. : a short tube connecting larger tubes or a contracted section of a tube between expanded portions
i. : the opening in the vamp of a shoe at the instep — see shoe illustration
j. : the part of a tennis racket between the head and the handle
k. : the minimum distance from the root of a fusion weld to its face
3. obsolete : a center of or capacity for destructive action : jaws , mouth
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1.
a. : to utter in the throat : mutter
throat threats
b. : to sing or enunciate in a throaty voice
throating her words huskily
2. : to make or provide with a throat
throat the underside of a stringcourse