What does "nape" mean?
The back part of the neck.
Nape
/neɪp/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The back part of the neck.
- Grammar: nape is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: nucha, scruff, back of the neck, napes.
- Useful contrasts: anterior neck, front of neck, ventral neck.
- Usage evidence: Would you like me to shave the nape of your neck?
How to use "nape"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "nape" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "nape" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "nape" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "nape" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "nape" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "nucha" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "nape", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The back part of the neck.
"He was still stroking Radar, long glides of his hand from nape to tail."
- 2 A tablecloth. obsolete
- 3 Napalm. slang, uncountable
"RHAH: They got through Alpha Company! Anything behind you don't identify itself, blow it away. Two - air strike's coming in. They gonna lay snake and nape right on the perimeter so stay tight in your holes and don't leave 'em."
- 4 Abbreviation of N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine. abbreviation, alt-of
- 5 the back side of the neck wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 The part of a fish or bird immediately behind the head.
Verb
- 1 To bombard with napalm. slang, transitive
Antonyms
anterior neckfront of neckventral neck
Example
"Would you like me to shave the nape of your neck?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nape"?
Common synonyms include: nucha, scruff, back of the neck, napes, neck, nuchal.
How do you use "nape" in a sentence?
Would you like me to shave the nape of your neck?
How do you pronounce "nape"?
Pronounced /neɪp/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English nape, naape, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old French hanap (“goblet”), from Frankish *hnapp, from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz ( > Old English hnæpp, hnæp (“cup, bowl, goblet”)), as there is a hollow at the base of the skull. More at nap.
Etymology 2
From Middle English nape, from Old French nape, nappe (“a cloth”), from Medieval Latin nappa, napa (“cloth, table-cloth, sheet”), alteration of Latin mappa (“a cloth, napkin, towel”). More at map, apron. Doublet of map, mop, and nappe.
Etymology 3
Short for napalm.