choke
4 ENTRIES FOUND:
chokes;
choked;
choking
chokes;
choked;
choking
Britannica Dictionary definition of CHOKE
1
[no object]
:
to become unable to breathe usually because something gets stuck in your throat or because the air is not good for breathing
-
Chew your food well so you don't choke.
-
She choked to death. = She died by choking.
-
We were choking on fumes.
2
[+ object]
a
:
to cause (someone) to stop breathing by squeezing the throat
-
The murderer choked his victim (to death).
b
:
to make (someone) unable to breathe in a normal way
-
The thick smoke was choking me.
◊ If you or your voice is choked with emotion, rage, etc., you are feeling emotion in such a strong way that it is hard for you to talk.
-
When she was presented with the award, she was so choked with emotion that she couldn't say her thank-you speech.
3
[+ object]
:
to stop (something) from growing or developing
— often + out
-
The flowers were choked by the weeds.
-
The flowers were choked out by the weeds.
4
[+ object]
:
to fill (something) completely so that movement is stopped or slowed
— often + up
-
Leaves choked [=clogged, blocked] the drain.
-
The streets were choked with traffic.
-
Logs were choking up the stream.
5
[no object]
informal
:
to fail to do something well because you are very nervous
-
When the pressure was on, the tennis star choked and lost the match.
choke back
[phrasal verb]
◊ If you are choking back tears, rage, anger, etc., you are finding it very hard not to cry or express emotion.
-
He was choking back tears as he talked about his late wife.
-
She struggled to choke back her anger as she listened to their criticisms.
choke down
[phrasal verb]
choke down (something)
or
choke (something) down
informal
:
to eat (something) with difficulty or without enjoyment
-
The meal was overcooked, but I managed to choke down a few bites.
choke off
[phrasal verb]
1
choke off (something)
also
choke (something) off
:
to make (something) smaller, weaker, or less powerful
:
to cause (something) to slow down or stop
-
Rising interest rates may choke off consumer spending.
-
Attempts have been made to choke off debate on the issue.
2
:
to prevent (something) from flowing or getting through
-
A growth on the artery wall is choking off the blood supply.
choke out
[phrasal verb]
choke (something) out
or
choke out (something)
:
to say (something) with difficulty because of strong emotion
-
She tearfully choked out an apology.
choke up
[phrasal verb]
1
◊ If you choke up or get/become (all) choked up, you are almost crying and have trouble talking because of strong emotion.
-
He chokes up whenever he tries to talk about the accident.
-
She got all choked up when she saw her daughter in her wedding dress.
2
baseball
:
to move your hands to a higher position on a baseball bat
— often + on
-
He choked up on the bat and took a short swing.
2
choke
/ˈtʃoʊk/
noun
plural
chokes
2
choke
/ˈtʃoʊk/
noun
plural
chokes
Britannica Dictionary definition of CHOKE
[count]
:
a part in a vehicle that controls the flow of air into the engine
