choke

The word “choke” means to be unable to breathe because something is blocking the throat or windpipe. In plain terms, to be blocked from breathing, to strangle someone, or to fail badly under pressure.

“Choke” is pronounced chohk (/t͡ʃoʊk/ in IPA).

Here is “choke” used in a sentence: “He started to choke on a piece of steak that went down the wrong way.”

Depending on how it is used, “choke” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “choke” comes from Old English. From Old English āceocian ("to choke"), likely related to Old English ċēoce ("jaw, cheek").

“Choke” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Choke” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to be unable to breathe because something is blocking the throat or windpipe.

Choke describes being unable to breathe because the throat or windpipe is blocked, which can be a serious, sometimes life-threatening event. Gag is a milder, often reflexive reaction to something touching the back of the throat and does not necessarily involve a real blockage of the airway.

In this sense, choke means to perform badly at a crucial moment, especially when victory seems close, due to nerves or pressure. It is commonly used informally in sports commentary to describe a collapse in performance at a decisive point.

A choke is a valve that adjusts the fuel-air mixture in an engine, particularly to help it start when cold. Older vehicles often had a manual choke control, though most modern engines now handle this automatically.

Yes, choke can mean to squeeze someone's throat so they cannot breathe, which is a distinct, more violent sense from simply being unable to breathe due to a blockage. Context usually makes clear whether the choking is accidental or deliberate.