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.
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 (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.
2 a
:to become obstructed or checked
b
: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
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