a narrow elongated projecting strip of land
"The boat drifted onto the neck where it connects to the main island, leaving us stranded until high tide came in."
a cut of meat from the neck of an animal
"The butcher sliced off some lean beef neck for us to use in our soup."
a narrow part of an artifact that resembles a neck in position or form
"the banjo had a long neck"
"the bottle had a wide neck"
an opening in a garment for the neck of the wearer; a part of the garment near the wearer's neck
"She struggled to button her shirt because the collar was too tight around her neck."
The part of the body connecting the head and the trunk found in humans and some animals.
"She had to hold her breath while someone adjusted her necklace around her neck."
In plain English: The neck is the part of your body that connects your head to your shoulders.
"She turned her head to look over her shoulder at the person behind her."
Usage: Use "neck" to refer specifically to the body part that connects the head to the shoulders. Do not use it to describe other areas like the torso or limbs.
To hang by the neck; strangle; kill, eliminate
"The villain vowed to have every traitor hanged from a tree until their bodies were left swinging in the wind."
In plain English: To neck means to drive a car very fast and recklessly.
"Please hold your horses and let the traffic neck before we cross the road."
Usage: Do not use "neck" as a verb to mean hanging or strangling someone in modern English, as this is archaic and violent. The word is primarily used today only as a noun to refer to the body part between the head and shoulders.
The word "neck" comes from Old English hnecca, which originally referred to the back of the head or nape. It traveled into modern English through Middle English while retaining its core meaning.