collar cell: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal depending on context.
Quick answer
What does “collar cell” mean?
The part of a shirt, dress, coat, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The part of a shirt, dress, coat, etc., that goes around the neck; to seize or detain someone.
A band put around the neck of an animal; a restraining device or mechanism; a ring or flange in machinery.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Few major differences. 'Collar' as verb (to seize) is slightly more common in UK crime drama/police slang. 'Dog collar' refers to clerical attire in both, but also a literal animal collar.
Connotations
In business, 'white-collar' (office) / 'blue-collar' (manual) universal. 'To collar someone' can sound informal or dramatic.
Frequency
Noun form is high-frequency in both. Verb form is mid-frequency, more common in specific genres (crime, journalism).
Grammar
How to Use “collar cell” in a Sentence
collar somebody (verb)collar of something (noun)have somebody by the collarVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “collar cell” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- He straightened his collar before the interview.
- The dog's collar had a brass tag.
American English
- She popped her collar against the wind.
- He works a blue-collar job at the plant.
verb
British English
- The officer finally collared the pickpocket.
American English
- I'll collar him after the meeting to discuss it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
White-collar worker, blue-collar job, executive collar.
Academic
In sociology: collar as social class signifier. In anatomy: collar bone (clavicle).
Everyday
My shirt collar is too tight. The police collared the thief.
Technical
Roller bearing collar, pipe collar, shaft collar in engineering.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “collar cell”
- Incorrect: She collared him for a talk. (Correct if meaning she detained him, but not for a casual chat). Incorrect: He wore a red collar. (Ambiguous: shirt or dog?)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can refer to animal neckbands, mechanical rings, and the act of apprehending someone.
'Collar' is a separate part attached around the neck. 'Neckline' is the shape of the opening of a garment (e.g., V-neck, scoop neck).
Yes, but it's informal and often used in contexts of stopping someone to talk (often insistently) or of police making an arrest.
It's an idiom meaning 'under strain' or 'with difficulty', originally from horses straining against their collar harness.
The part of a shirt, dress, coat, etc.
Collar cell is usually neutral to formal depending on context. in register.
Collar cell: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːlər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hot under the collar”
- “collar and tie”
- “against the collar”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COLLAR – something that goes around your COLumn (neck) like a bAND.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAPTURE IS GRASPING THE COLLAR (He was collared by the authorities).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'collar' NOT typically refer to clothing?