choking
Variant of choke
choke
Definition
choke (c̸hōk)
transitive verb choked, choking chok′·ing
- to prevent from breathing by blocking the windpipe or squeezing the throat of; strangle; suffocate; smother; stifle
- to block up; obstruct by clogging
- to hinder the growth or action of; smother; suppress
- to fill up
- to cut off some air from the carburetor of (a gasoline engine) in order to make a richer gasoline mixture
- ☆ to hold (a bat, golf club, etc.) away from the end of the handle and closer toward the middle
Etymology: ME choken, aphetic < OE vt. aceocian, to choke, prob. < base of ceoke, jaw, cheek
intransitive verb
- to be suffocated; have difficulty in breathing
- to be blocked up; be obstructed
- to become strained with emotion a choked voice
- Informal to be unable to perform efficiently, as in a sporting event, because of tension, strong emotion, etc.
noun
- the act of choking; strangulation
- a sound of choking
- the valve that chokes a carburetor
- a constriction, as in a chokebore
choke back
to hold back (feelings, sobs, etc.)
choke down
to swallow with difficulty
choke off
to bring to an end; end the growth of
choke up
- to block up; clog
- to fill too full
- choke (): often with on
- ☆ Informal to be unable to speak, act efficiently, etc., as because of fear, strong emotion, tension, etc.
choking
Usage Examples
Object
- sob: At home she was finally able to cry and it came in painful, choking sobs like coughing up ice cubes.
- tot: Boy, 9, saves choking tot ` We'll hold referendum on police.. .
- fume: The rescuers risked their lives by crawling through dense choking fumes in which they found the injured men trying to crawl to safety.
- hazard: Contains small parts which could present a choking hazard.
Modifying Another Word
- nearly: Nearly choking on my Marks & Spencer's kebabs, the familiar face of Ailsa drifted onto the screen.
Browse dictionary entries near choking
- chokiest
- chokier
- chokey
- choker
- chokehold
- chokedamp
- choked
- chokecherry
- chokecherries
- chokebore
- choky
- chol-
- cholate
- chole-
- cholecalciferol
- cholecyst
- cholecystectomies
- cholecystectomy
- cholecystitides
- cholecystitis
