choke

¹choke

verb \ˈchōk\

chokedchok·ing

Definition of CHOKE

transitive verb

1

: to check or block normal breathing of by compressing or obstructing the trachea or by poisoning or adulterating available air

2

a : to check or hinder the growth, development, or activity of <the flowers were choked by the weeds> b : to obstruct by filling up or clogging <leaves choked the drain> c : to fill completely : jam <roads choked with traffic>

3

: to enrich the fuel mixture of (a motor) by partially shutting off the air intake of the carburetor

4

: to grip (as a baseball bat) some distance from the end of the handle —usually used with up

intransitive verb

1

: to become choked in breathing <he choked on a bone>

2

a : to become obstructed or checked b : to become or feel constricted in the throat (as from strong emotion) —usually used with up <choked up and couldn't finish the speech>

3

: to shorten one's grip especially on the handle of a bat —usually used with up

4

: to lose one's composure and fail to perform effectively in a critical situation <had a chance to win the game but he choked>

Examples of CHOKE

1. Chew your food well so you don't choke.
2. We were choking on fumes.
3. The thick smoke was choking me.
4. The flowers were choked by the weeds.

Origin of CHOKE

Middle English, alteration of achoken, from Old English ācēocian, from ā-, perfective prefix + cēoce, cēace jaw, cheek — more at abide, cheek

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CHOKE

Synonyms: garrote (or garotte), strangle, suffocate, throttle

Antonyms: clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

Related Words: asphyxiate, smother, stifle; scrag

Near Antonyms: restore, resuscitate, revive

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with CHOKE

bloke, broke, cloak, coke, croak, folk, hoke, joke, moke, oak, poke, Polk, roque, smoke, soak, soke, spoke, stoke, stroke, toke, toque, yogh, yoke, yolk