~ 1
■ verb
1》 prevent from breathing by constricting or obstructing the throat or depriving of air.
↘have difficulty in breathing because of an obstructed throat or lack of air.
2》 fill (a space) so as to make movement difficult or impossible.
3》 make (someone) speechless with strong emotion.
4》 enrich the fuel mixture in (a petrol engine) by reducing the intake of air.
■ noun
1》 a valve in the carburettor of a petrol engine used to reduce the amount of air in the fuel mixture.
2》 a narrowed part of a shotgun bore serving to restrict the spread of the shot.
3》 an inductance coil used to smooth the variations of an alternating current or to alter its phase.
Origin
ME: from OE ācēocian (v.), from cēoce (see cheek ).
————————
~ 2
■ noun the inedible mass of silky fibres at the centre of a globe arti~.
Origin
C17: prob. a confusion of the ending of arti~ with ~ 1 .