Meaning & use
a turtleneck
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A sweater or shirt with a high collar that fits closely around the neck and folds over.
Grammar: Countable: say a turtleneck, two turtlenecks.
Patterns
- wear a turtleneck
- a black turtleneck
- a turtleneck sweater
She wore a black turtleneck under her jacket.
He pulled the turtleneck up over his chin because it was freezing.
Turtlenecks are back in fashion this winter.
nouncountable
The high, close-fitting collar itself, which rolls down around the neck.
Grammar: Often used after a color or fabric word: a wool turtleneck.
Patterns
- a wool turtleneck
- a ribbed turtleneck
The dress has a soft turtleneck that keeps your neck warm.
He hates anything tight around his throat, so he cuts the turtleneck off his old shirts.
Word forms
| plural | turtlenecks |
|---|
Common combinations
- a black turtleneck
- She always wears a black turtleneck to art openings.
- a turtleneck sweater
- He bought a thick turtleneck sweater for the trip.
- wear a turtleneck
- I can't wear a turtleneck in summer; it's far too hot.
- a turtleneck under something
- Try a thin turtleneck under your dress for extra warmth.
- a ribbed turtleneck
- The ribbed turtleneck stretches easily over your head.
Synonyms and how they differ
- polo neck
- The usual British term for the same garment; Americans say turtleneck.
- roll neck
- A British term for a similar high collar, often used for looser, thicker styles.
- mock neck
- A high collar that does not fold over, so it sits closer to the throat than a turtleneck.
Word family
- turtlenecked adjective
- Wearing or having a turtleneck: a turtlenecked jumper.
Commonly confused: a turtleneck or turtle? a turtleneck or turtleneck vs. crew neck?
a turtleneck vs turtle
The animal is a turtle; the clothing word is turtleneck, written as one word.
a turtleneck vs turtleneck vs. crew neck
A crew neck has a round collar that sits at the base of the neck, while a turtleneck rises up and folds over.
Practice
Which sentence uses the clothing word correctly?
Choose one answer.
The standard spelling is one word, turtleneck, so option 0 is right. Option 1 splits it into two words, which is not standard, and options 2 and 3 confuse the garment with the animal or use a wrong plural form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a turtleneck”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.