Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. The slight projection at the front of the throat formed by the largest cartilage of the larynx, usually more prominent in men than in women.
Wiktionary
- n. anatomy The lump in the throat, usually more noticeable in men than in women; the laryngeal prominence.
- n. A common name for Tabernaemontana divaricata, a fragrant house plant native to southeast Asia.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Bot.) The projection formed by the thyroid cartilage in the neck. It is particularly prominent in males, and is so called from a notion that it was caused by the forbidden fruit (an apple) sticking in the throat of our first parent.
- See under Adam.
WordNet 3.0
- n. the largest cartilage of the larynx
- n. tropical shrub having glossy foliage and fragrant nocturnal flowers with crimped or wavy corollas; northern India to Thailand
Etymologies
- A calque of French pomme d'Adam. (Wiktionary)
- Ultimately translation of French pomme d'Adam, pomegranate, Adam's apple (sense influenced by Arabic rummāna, pomegranate, Adam's apple) : pomme, apple + de, of + Adam, Adam. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“It will b-be b-better in a minute," said Richard, and his Adam's apple moved convulsively up and down.”
“He stopped and swallowed and his Adam's apple moved up and down; then for the first time he looked Rubashov full in the face.”
“Richard stood on the edge of the pavement, cap in hand; his Adam's apple moved rapidly up and down.”
“He laid his own sword with meticulous care across Jock's neck, where the Adam's apple bobbed up and down.”
“He wore loose tan chinos, bibbed with blood, and a polo shirt, open at the throat, which was open itself where a bullet had entered the Adam's apple dead center.”
“He was tall, thin almost to the point of emaciation, with a prominent Adam's apple that bobbled as he spoke and a voice so deep he sounded as if he were speaking into a well.”
“Beads of water ran from his poncho, nose and Adam's apple and from the barrel of his submachine-gun.”
“The boy nodded; his Adam's apple moved up and down.”
“Were you really so happy in those days?" asked Rubashov; but the peasant only murmured something unintelligible, while his Adam's apple slid up and down his throat several times.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘Adam's apple’.
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Namesakes
Words derived from names, be they historical, literary, or mythological.
quixotic, cereal, odyssey, jovial, mercurial, erotic, achilles' heel, confucianism, lovecraftian, narcissism, echo, fallopian and 101 more...
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To Eat, Or Not To Eat?
pie-dog, piebald, pie chart, piece of cake, piecemeal, nut and bolt, wingnut, beebread, toe jam, butterfly, Luxemburger, pi and 22 more...
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