collar-bone

A child points to their collar-bone while learning body parts.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Anatomy: The "collar-bone" is a long, slender bone that connects the sternum (breastbone) to the scapula (shoulder blade), also known as the clavicle. It forms part of the shoulder girdle and provides structural support for the arm.

Usage Examples

• (The clavicle was fractured.)
• (The anatomical structure of the shoulder was inspected.)
• (The bone visible at the base of the neck.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a prominent collar-bone": describing a visible or protruding clavicle, often due to thinness or certain body types.

  • Models often have prominent collar-bones, which are considered aesthetically desirable in fashion. (The clavicle is visibly defined.)

• "collar-bone fracture": a common injury, especially in sports or falls, involving a break in the clavicle.

  • A collar-bone fracture typically requires immobilization with a sling. (A break in the clavicle bone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Clavicle (n): the medical term for the collar-bone.

  • The clavicle is one of the most frequently broken bones in the human body. (The collar-bone in formal anatomical language.)

• Collar-bone-length (adj): describing hair that reaches the collar-bone.

  • She cut her hair to collar-bone-length for a fresh look. (Hair ending at the level of the clavicle.)

Synonyms

• Clavicle: the formal anatomical name.
• Shoulder bone: a less precise but descriptive term.

Related Idioms

• "to have a chip on one's collar-bone": no standard idiom; however, "collar-bone" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. The closest idiom is "to have a chip on one's shoulder", which means to hold a grudge or be easily offended — but this does not involve the collar-bone directly.

Phrasal Verbs

• No phrasal verbs are commonly formed with "collar-bone." The word is a compound noun and does not function as a verb.