nuchal
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˈnjuːkəl/
KK: /ˈnuːkəl/
adjective
Definition
Relating to the back or nape of the neck.
Example
The doctor examined the nuchal area for any signs of injury.
Conversation
I just learned about something called nuchal folds in my anatomy class.
Oh really? What are those exactly?
They're the folds of skin at the back of the neck, right?
Yes, that's right! It's interesting how much we can learn about the body.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
cervical
nape
occipital
Antonyms
noncervical
anterior
frontal
noun
Definition
The area at the back of the neck.
Example
The doctor examined the nuchal region for any signs of injury.
Conversation
Have you ever noticed how tense your nuchal area can get?
Yeah, especially after a long day at work.
I think I need to start stretching more to relieve the tension in my nuchal region.
Root Explanation
Nuchal → It is derived from the Latin word "nucha" (meaning nape or back of the neck) with the suffix "-al" (meaning pertaining to). The term "nuchal" refers to something that is related to or located at the nape of the neck.
Memory Tip
Think of the Latin word for the nape of the neck, 'nucha', to remember that 'nuchal' pertains to that area.
Visually Confused Words
nucal
eunuchal
ucal
chal