Collins English-English Dictionary

neck [nεk]

1. 1. n the part of an organism connecting the head with the rest of the body

2. 2. n the part of a garment around or nearest the neck

3. 3. n something resembling a neck in shape or position

   the neck of a bottle

4. 4. n [anatomy] a constricted portion of an organ or part, such as the cervix of the uterus

5. 5. n a narrow or elongated projecting strip of land; a peninsula or isthmus

6. 6. n a strait or channel

7. 7. n the part of a violin, cello, etc, that extends from the body to the tuning pegs and supports the fingerboard

8. 8. n a solid block of lava from the opening of an extinct volcano, exposed after erosion of the surrounding rock

9. 9. n [botany] the upper, usually tubular, part of the archegonium of mosses, ferns, etc

10. 10. n the length of a horse's head and neck taken as an approximate distance by which one horse beats another in a race

    to win by a neck

11. 11. n [informal] a short distance, amount, or margin

    he is always a neck ahead in new techniques

12. 12. n [informal] impudence; audacity

    he had the neck to ask for a rise

13. 13. n [architect] the narrow band at the top of the shaft of a column between the necking and the capital, esp as used in the Tuscan order

14. 14. n another name for beard, on printer's type

15. 15. vi. [intr] [informal] to kiss, embrace, or fondle someone or one another passionately

16. 16. vt. [tr] [Brit] [informal] to swallow (something, esp a drink)

    he's been necking pints all night

17. 17. vt. [Etymology] Old English hnecca; related to Old High German hnack, Old Irish cnocc hill