Dictionary
Adam's apple
noun
: the lump that sticks out in the front of a person's neck, that is usually larger in men than in women, and that moves when a person talks or swallows
Full Definition of ADAM'S APPLE
: the projection in the front of the neck formed by the largest cartilage of the larynx
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First Known Use of ADAM'S APPLE
circa 1755
Rhymes with ADAM'S APPLE
ADAM'S APPLE Defined for Kids
Adam's apple
noun Ad·am's apple \ˈa-dəmz-\
Definition of ADAM'S APPLE for Kids
: the lump formed in the front of a person's neck by cartilage in the throat
Medical Dictionary
Adam's apple
noun Ad·am's ap·ple \ˌad-əm-ˈzap-əl\
Medical Definition of ADAM'S APPLE
: the projection in the front of the neck that is formed by the thyroid cartilage and is particularly prominent in males
Biographical Note for ADAM'S APPLE
Adam, biblical character. According to the Bible, Adam was the first man, the husband of Eve, and later the father of Cain and Abel. Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden until they ate a forbidden fruit, traditionally held to be an apple. As a punishment they were expelled from Eden. Adam lived a total of 930 years. The term Adam's apple arose through a misinterpretation of the Hebrew for “protuberance on man” used to denote this anatomical part. The late Hebrew word for protuberance is very similar to the word for apple, and Adam in Hebrew can refer to “man” in general as well as the biblical figure. Thus the expression was misinterpreted, perhaps owing to the association of Adam with apples.
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