throat

[ throht ]
See synonyms for throat on Thesaurus.com
nounAnatomy, Zoology.
  1. the passage from the mouth to the stomach or to the lungs, including the pharynx, esophagus, larynx, and trachea.

  2. some analogous or similar narrowed part or passage.

  1. the front of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone.

  2. the narrow opening between a fireplace and its flue or smoke chamber, often closed by a damper.

  3. Nautical, Machinery. swallow1 (def. 13).

  4. Nautical.

    • Also called nock. the forward upper corner of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail.

  5. the forward edge of the opening in the vamp of a shoe.

  6. Automotive. barrel (def. 14).

verb (used with object)
  1. to make a throat in; provide with a throat.

  2. to utter or express from or as from the throat; utter throatily.

Idioms about throat

  1. cut one's own throat, to bring about one's own ruin: He cut his own throat by being nasty to the boss.

  2. jump down someone's throat, Informal. to disagree with, criticize, or scold overhastily: Wait and let me finish before you jump down my throat.

  1. lump in one's throat, a tight or uncomfortable feeling in the throat, as a reaction to an emotion: The sight of the infant brought a lump to her throat.

  2. ram / force something down someone's throat, Informal. to force someone to agree to or accept (something).

  3. stick in one's throat, to be difficult of expression; cause to hesitate: The words of sympathy stuck in her throat.

Origin of throat

1
before 900; Middle English throte,Old English throte, throta, throtu; akin to Old High German drozza throat, Old Norse throti swelling. See throttle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for throat

throat

/ (θrəʊt) /


noun
    • that part of the alimentary and respiratory tracts extending from the back of the mouth (nasopharynx) to just below the larynx

    • the front part of the neck

  1. something resembling a throat, esp in shape or function: the throat of a chimney

  1. botany the gaping part of a tubular corolla or perianth

  2. informal a sore throat

  3. cut one's throat or cut one's own throat to bring about one's own ruin

  4. have by the throat to have compete control over (a person or thing)

  5. jump down someone's throat See jump (def. 24)

  6. ram something down someone's throat or force something down someone's throat to insist that someone listen to or accept (something): he rammed his own opinions down my throat

  7. stick in one's throat or stick in one's craw informal to be difficult, or against one's conscience, for one to accept, utter, or believe

Origin of throat

1
Old English throtu; related to Old High German drozza throat, Old Norse throti swelling

Other words from throat

  • Related adjectives: gular, guttural, jugular, laryngeal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with throat

throat

see at each other's throats; cut someone's throat; frog in one's throat; jump down someone's throat; lump in one's throat; ram (shove) down someone's throat; stick in one's craw (throat).

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.