noun
nape
nayp
noun
1
The back of the neck.
"She swept her hair up, exposing the nape of her neck."
"A cold draft crept across the nape of his neck."
How to Use Nape
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe back part of your neck, just below the head.
Common pairings
nape of the neck
back of the nape
Word Forms
naped past tense, napes plural, napes plural, napes singular
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She swept her hair up, exposing the _____ of her neck.
Etymology
From Middle English nape, of uncertain origin — possibly linked to an old word for a cup or hollow, describing the small dip at the base of the skull.