choke

1 of 2

verb

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 sense 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

choke

2 of 2

noun

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 as
a
: a valve for choking (see choke entry 1 sense 3) a gasoline engine
b
: a constriction in an outlet (as of an oil well) that restricts flow
d
: a constriction (such as a narrowing of the barrel or an attachment) at the muzzle (see muzzle entry 1 sense 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.

Examples of choke in a Sentence

Verb 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
He is allegedly fatally choked 30-year-old Jordan Neely on a New York City subway in 2023. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 By Harry Booth October 30, 2024 7:13 AM EDT To run an AI model, computers must constantly shift vast amounts of data between separate memory and logic chips, a process that chokes performance. Harry Booth, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
With a playful touch and a light choke, her work turns traditional notions of hunter and prey on their head. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024 In the opening fight, local favorite and UFC veteran Court McGee dominated Means and secured the victory with a rear-naked choke finish. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for choke 

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of choke was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near choke

Cite this Entry

“Choke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choke. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

choke

1 of 2 verb
choked; choking
1
: to keep from breathing in a normal way by cutting off the supply of air
choked by smoke
2
: to have the windpipe blocked entirely or partly
choke on a bone
3
: to slow or prevent the growth or action of
choke back tears
4
: to block by clogging
leaves choked the drain
5
: to decrease or shut off the air intake of a carburetor to make the fuel mixture richer
6
: to grip (as a baseball bat) some distance from the end of the handle
usually used with up

choke

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of choking
2
: a portion of a shotgun bore that narrows toward the muzzle
also : a device attached to the muzzle that narrows the bore
3
: a device for choking a gasoline engine

Medical Definition

choke

1 of 2 verb
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

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

More from Merriam-Webster on choke

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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