jugular

/ˈdʒʌgjələr/

/ˈdʒʌgjələ/

Other forms: jugulars

Jugular is short for “jugular vein,” the major vein that brings blood from your head to your heart. You can also call any vulnerable area the jugular.

If you hear someone say, “Go for the jugular!” Watch out! A serious attack is coming. When lions attack prey, they chomp down on the jugular to kill the animal fast. If your jugular is cut, you could die very quickly without medical help. You can also call your neck and throat the jugular area. Because this is a vulnerable area, you can use this word for other vulnerable things, like a weak spot on a sports team.

Definitions of jugular

1. adjective

   relating to or located in the region of the neck or throat
   “jugular vein”
2. noun

   veins in the neck that return blood from the head
   synonyms: jugular vein, vena jugularis

   types:

   anterior jugular vein

   arises below the chin from veins draining the lower face; joins the external jugular vein

   external jugular vein

   formed by the junction of the posterior auricular and the retromandibular veins; empties into the subclavian vein

   internal jugular vein

   a continuation of the sigmoid sinus of the dura mater; joins the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein

   type of:

   vein, vena, venous blood vessel

   a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
3. noun

   a vital part that is vulnerable to attack
   “he always goes for the jugular”

   type of:

   soft spot, weak part, weak spot

   a place of especial vulnerability