choke

play

verb \ˈchōk\

Definition of choke

choked

;

choking

transitive verb
1 : to check or block normal breathing of by compressing or obstructing the trachea or by poisoning or adulterating available air The unwary guard was choked to death by a prisoner.
2a : 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 (something, such as a baseball bat) some distance from the end of the handle —usually used with up The batter choked up the bat and cut down his swing.
intransitive verb
1 : to become choked in breathing He choked on a bone.
2a : to become obstructed or checkedb : to become or feel constricted (see constrict 1) 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

See choke defined for English-language learners

See choke defined for kids

Examples of choke in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology 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

choke

noun

Definition of choke

1 [by folk etymology from artichoke] : the filamentous inedible center of an artichoke flower head; broadly : an artichoke flower head
2 : something that obstructs passage or flow: such asa : a valve for choking (see ¹choke 3) a gasoline engineb : a constriction in an outlet (as of an oil well) that restricts flowc : reactor 2d : a constriction (such as a narrowing of the barrel or an attachment) at the muzzle (see ¹muzzle 3) of a shotgun that serves to limit the spread of shot
3 : the act of choking A few chokes dislodged the food in her throat.

See choke defined for English-language learners

Origin and Etymology of choke

see ¹choke

First Known Use: 1736

Other Automotive Terms

articulated, block, clutch, diesel, neutral, transmission

CHOKE Defined for English Language Learners

choke

play

verb

Definition of choke for English Language Learners

: to become unable to breathe usually because something gets stuck in your throat or because the air is not good for breathing
: to cause (someone) to stop breathing by squeezing the throat
: to make (someone) unable to breathe in a normal way

choke

noun

Definition of choke for English Language Learners

: a part in a vehicle that controls the flow of air into the engine

CHOKE Defined for Kids

choke

play

verb \ˈchōk\

Definition of choke for Students

choked

;

choking

1 : to keep from breathing in a normal way by cutting off the supply of air Many people were choked by thick smoke.
2 : to have the trachea blocked entirely or partly He nearly choked on a bone.
3 : to slow or prevent the growth or action of The flowers were choked by weeds.
4 : to block by clogging Leaves choked the sewer.

choke down

: to eat with difficulty I choked down a bite.

choke up

: to become too emotional to speak

Medical Dictionary

choke

play

verb \ˈchōk\

Medical Definition of choke

choked

;

choking

transitive verb

: to keep from breathing in a normal way by compressing or obstructing the trachea or by poisoning or adulterating available air

intransitive verb

: to have the trachea blocked entirely or partly

choke

noun

Medical Definition of choke

1: the act of choking
2chokes plural : pulmonary manifestations of decompression sickness including shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough—used with the