English French Spanish More dictionaries More

Definition of 'throat'

Word Frequency

throat

(θroʊt )

Word forms: plural throats

1. countable noun [oft poss NOUN]

Your throat is the back of your mouth and the top part of the tubes that go down into your stomach and your lungs.

She had a sore throat.

As she stared at him, she felt her throat go dry.

Synonyms: gullet, windpipe, oesophagus, crop More Synonyms of throat

2. countable noun [oft poss NOUN]

Your throat is the front part of your neck.

His striped tie was loosened at his throat.

3.

See to clear your throat

4.

See to ram something down someone's throat

5.

See at each other's throats

6.

See to stick in your throat

7. a lump in your throat

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of
throat

Youtube video

You may also like

Language Lover's

Language Lover's

French Translation of

French Translation of

Word of the day: selenomorphology

Word of the day:

'selenomorphology'

Hindi Translation of

Hindi Translation of

Word Frequency

throat in British English

(θrəʊt )

noun

1.

a.

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

b.

the front part of the neck

2.

something resembling a throat, esp in shape or function

the throat of a chimney

3. botany

the gaping part of a tubular corolla or perianth

4. informal

a sore throat

5. See cut one's throat

6. See have by the throat

7. See jump down someone's throat

8. See ram something down someone's throat

9. See stick in one's throat

▶ Related adjectives: , , , gular, guttural, jugular, laryngeal

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Word origin

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

Word Frequency

throat in American English

(θroʊt )

noun

1.

the front part of the neck

2.

the upper part of the passage leading from the mouth and nose to the stomach and lungs, including the pharynx and the upper larynx, trachea, and esophagus

3.

any narrow passage, part, or entrance

verb transitive

4. Archaic

to pronounce or sing in the throat, i.e., with a harsh, guttural quality

Idioms:

cut each other's throats

cut one's own throat

jump down someone's throat

ram something down someone's throat

stick in one's throat

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Word origin

ME throte < OE, akin to Ger dross(el), throat < IE *(s)treu-, swollen, stretched < base *(s)ter-, stiff > stare

Examples of 'throat' in a sentence
throat

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

My throat feels dry and it stops me sleeping.On the streets you see and hear people clearing their throats from the pollution by spitting in the street.First the audience was told the young actor would have to speak rather than sing her lines due to a sore throat.She takes it for coughs, colds and sore throats.It's right there, bubbling at the back of your throat.Then West cleared his throat.Your throat is dry as you punch the buttons on the phone in your office.She could have cut her throat or stomach.They are all just clearing their throats at the same time!They will hand out spitting bags to anyone needing to clear their throat.

Show more...

More idioms containing
throat

have a frog in your throat

cut your own throat

grab something by the throat

jump down someone's throat

ram something down someone's throat

something grabs you by the throat

something sticks in your throat

a lump in your throat

Trends of
throat

View usage for:

In other languages
throat

British English: throat /θrəʊt/ NOUN

back of mouth Your throat is the back part of your mouth that you use to swallow and to breathe.

American English: throat /ˈθroʊt/
Arabic: حَنْجَرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: garganta
Chinese: 喉咙
Croatian: grlo
Czech: krk vnitřek
Danish: hals
Dutch: keel
European Spanish: garganta
Finnish: kurkku ruumiinosa
French: gorge
German: Rachen
Greek: λαιμός
Italian: gola
Japanese: のど
Korean: 목구멍
Norwegian: hals
Polish: gardło
European Portuguese: garganta
Romanian: gâtlej
Russian: горло
Latin American Spanish: garganta
Swedish: hals
Thai: คอ
Turkish: boğaz
Ukrainian: горло
Vietnamese: cổ họng

British English: throat /θrəʊt/ NOUN

front of neck Your throat is the front part of your neck.

American English: throat /ˈθroʊt/
Arabic: حَلْق
Brazilian Portuguese: garganta
Chinese: 喉咙
Croatian: grlo
Czech: hrdlokrk
Danish: hals
Dutch: keel
European Spanish: garganta
Finnish: kurkku
French: gorge cou
German: Hals
Greek: λάρυγγας
Italian: gola
Japanese: のど
Korean: 목구멍
Norwegian: hals
Polish: gardło
European Portuguese: garganta
Romanian: gât
Russian: горло
Latin American Spanish: garganta
Swedish: hals
Thai: ลำคอ
Turkish: boğaz
Ukrainian: горло
Vietnamese: cổ họng

Translate your text for free

Browse alphabetically
throat

Related terms of
throat

Source

Definition of throat from the Collins English Dictionary

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

hours or ours?

Which version is correct?

There are few strangers in a town like hours. There are few strangers in a town like ours.

loot or lute?

Which version is correct?

There was a man playing a loot on the lawn. There was a man playing a lute on the lawn.

elicit or illicit?

Which version is correct?

The elicit trade was highlighted in an investigation last year. The illicit trade was highlighted in an investigation last year.

peak or peek?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

peak

peek

It happened at the of the morning rush hour.

flair or flare?

Which version is correct?

I have a friend who has a flair for languages. I have a friend who has a flare for languages.

Your score:

Jul 23, 2021

Word of the day

selenomorphology

the study of the lunar surface and landscape

SEE FULL DEFINITION

SEE PREVIOUS WORDS

Latest Word Submissions

pipe Jul 21, 2021

bughouse Jul 20, 2021

crazyhouse Jul 20, 2021

pingdemic Jul 17, 2021

View More Submit

A little bird told me… 7 animal idioms

It’s new words time at Collins Dictionary and this month we see the addition of words like fingerling, net zero and emotional support animal. This month, there were a few animal-related additions. Read more

9 new words added to Collins Dictionary

Here are nine words recently added to Collins English Dictionary online. The words we use reflect the preoccupations of our time, and with the possibility of holidays and travel returning to the agenda, the dictionary welcomes ‘capsule hotel’, ‘tourist tax’, and the American informal shortening ‘vacay’ (from ‘vacation’). Read more

New Conversations Day

The twelfth of July marks New Conversations Day. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t fret or feel afflicted by FOMO, for this is the first such day – ever. Read more

Collins English Dictionary Apps

Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android. Read more

Collins Dictionaries for Schools

Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom. Read more

We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots! Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge! Read more

Join the Collins community

All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month. Read more

Scrabble score
for 'throat':
9

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

cookie or cake?

Which version is correct?

that's the way the cookie crumbles that's the way the cake crumbles

foot or hand?

Which version is correct?

have your foot in the till have your hand in the till

hair or nose?

Which version is correct?

get up someone's hair get up someone's nose

boots or shoe?

Which version is correct?

get too big for your boots get too big for your shoe

horse or mule?

Which version is correct?

stubborn as a horse stubborn as a mule

Your score:

Create an account and sign in to access this FREE content

Register now or log in to access