necklace
Word family
- necklacingnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All five words refer to jewellery worn around the neck, but they differ in form and usage. 'Necklace' is the general term for any decorative item worn around the neck. A 'chain' is a necklace made of linked metal rings, often plain or used to hold a pendant. A 'pendant' is an ornament that hangs from a chain — technically a type of necklace component, though people often say 'I'm wearing a pendant' when the hanging piece is the focal point. A 'choker' is a short, tight necklace that sits high on the neck, popular in both vintage and modern fashion. 'Beads' can refer either to individual decorative balls strung on a thread (e.g., 'wooden beads') or to a complete necklace made of such objects. Use 'chain' when the metal links are the main feature, 'choker' for the tight fit, 'pendant' when there is a hanging centrepiece, and 'beads' for casual or handmade necklaces.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'necklace' comes from Middle English 'nekclas', a combination of 'nek' (neck) and 'las' (lace). 'Lace' here originally meant a cord or string, not the decorative fabric we call lace today. It entered English from Old French 'las', meaning a noose or cord, which traces back to Latin 'laqueus', a snare or noose. So a necklace was literally a 'neck cord', which fits the earliest designs — strings of beads or simple cords worn around the neck. The violent verb sense emerged in South Africa during the 1980s, using the same word because the rubber tyre placed around a victim's neck resembles a necklace in shape.