throat: Meaning and Definition of

throat

Pronunciation: (thrōt), [key]
— n. Anat., Zool.
  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.
  3. the front of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone.
  4. the narrow opening between a fireplace and its flue or smoke chamber, often closed by a damper.
  5. swallow (def. 13).
    1. Also callednock.the forward upper corner of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail. See diag. undersail.
    2. jaw1 (def. 5).
  6. the forward edge of the opening in the vamp of a shoe.
  7. barrel (def. 14).
  8. to bring about one's own ruin: He cut his own throat by being nasty to the boss.
  9. to disagree with, criticize, or scold overhastily: Wait and let me finish before you jump down my throat.
  10. 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.
  11. to force someone to agree to or accept (something).
  12. to be difficult of expression; cause to hesitate: The words of sympathy stuck in her throat.
—v.t.
  1. to make a throat in; provide with a throat.
  2. to utter or express from or as from the throat; utter throatily.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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