— necker , n. — neckless , adj. — necklike , adj.
/nek/ , n.
1. the part of the body of an animal or human being that connects the head and the trunk.
2. the part of a garment encircling, partly covering, or closest to the neck; neckline.
3. the length of the neck of a horse or other animal as a measure in racing.
4. the slender part near the top of a bottle, vase, or similar object.
5. any narrow, connecting, or projecting part suggesting the neck of an animal.
6. a narrow strip of land, as an isthmus or a cape.
7. a strait.
8. the longer and more slender part of a violin or similar stringed instrument, extending from the body to the head.
9. Building Trades , Mach. the part on a shank of a bolt next to the head, esp. when it has a special form.
10. Anat. a narrowed part of a bone, organ, or the like.
11. Dentistry. the slightly narrowed region of a tooth between the crown and the root.
12. Print. beard (def. 5).
13. Archit. a cylindrical continuation of the shaft of a column above the lower astragal of the capital, as in the Roman Doric and Tuscan orders.
14. Also called volcanic neck . Geol. the solidified lava or igneous rock filling a conduit leading either to a vent of an extinct volcano or to a laccolith.
15. be up to one's neck , Informal. to have a surfeit; be overburdened: Right now she's up to her neck in work.
16. break one's neck , Informal. to make a great effort: We broke our necks to get there on time.
17. get it in the neck , Slang.
a. to suffer punishment or loss: The trend is to consolidation and small businesses are getting it in the neck.
b. to be rejected or dismissed: The employees got it in the neck when the company moved overseas.
c. to be sharply reprimanded or scolded.
18. neck and neck , even or very close; indeterminate as to the outcome: They were coming toward the finish line neck and neck.
19. neck of the woods , Informal. neighborhood, area, or vicinity: Next time you're in this neck of the woods, drop in.
20. stick one's neck out , Informal. to expose oneself to danger, disaster, failure, disgrace, etc.; take a risk: He stuck his neck out by supporting an unpopular candidate.
21. win by a neck ,
a. to win by a small amount or narrow margin.
b. Racing. to be first by a head and neck; finish closely.
v.i.
22. Informal. (of two persons) to embrace, kiss, and caress one another amorously.
v.t.
23. Informal. to embrace, kiss, and caress (someone) amorously.
24. to strangle or behead.
[ bef. 900; ME nekke, OE hnecca, c. D nek nape of neck; akin to G Nacken, ON hnakki nape of neck ]