I. ˈchōk verb
( choked ; chok·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of achoken, from Old English ācēocian, from ā-, perfective prefix + cēoce, cēace jaw, cheek — more at abide , cheek
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to check or block normal breathing of by compressing or obstructing the trachea or by poisoning or adulterating available air
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 (as a baseball bat) some distance from the end of the handle — usually used with up
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 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
II. noun
Date: 1736
1.
[by folk etymology from arti choke ]
: the filamentous inedible center of an artichoke flower head ; broadly : an artichoke flower head
2. : something that obstructs passage or flow: as
a. : a valve for choking a gasoline engine
b. : a constriction in an outlet (as of an oil well) that restricts flow
c. : reactor 2
d. : a constriction (as a narrowing of the barrel or an attachment) at the muzzle of a shotgun that serves to limit the spread of shot
3. : the act of choking