Dictionary definition · choke
noun
- a coil of low resistance and high inductance used in electrical circuits to pass direct current and attenuate alternating current
- a valve that controls the flow of air into the carburetor of a gasoline engine
verb
- breathe with great difficulty, as when experiencing a strong emotion"She choked with emotion when she spoke about her deceased husband"
- be too tight; rub or press"This neckband is choking the cat"
- wring the neck of"The man choked his opponent"
- constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing
- struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake"he swallowed a fishbone and gagged"
- fail to perform adequately due to tension or agitation"The team should have won hands down but choked, disappointing the coach and the audience"
- check or slow down the action or effect of"She choked her anger"
- become or cause to become obstructed"The leaves clog our drains in the Fall"
- impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of"The foul air was slowly suffocating the children"
- become stultified, suppressed, or stifled"He is suffocating — living at home with his aged parents in the small village"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).