v. 1 tr. choke or kill by stopping breathing, esp. by pressure, fumes, etc. 2 tr. (often foll. by by, with) produce a choking or breathless sensation in, esp. by excitement, terror, etc. 3 intr. be or feel suffocated or breathless. suffocating adj. suffocatingly adv. suffocation n.
[ L suffocare (as SUB-, fauces throat) ]