noun Uncommon

throttle

THROT-l

Throttle (noun) means a valve or lever that controls how much fuel or air reaches an engine, and therefore its speed. Example: “He eased off the throttle as he approached the corner.”

noun

A valve or lever that controls how much fuel or air reaches an engine, and therefore its speed.

"He eased off the throttle as he approached the corner."

"The motorbike's throttle is on the right handlebar."

verb

To restrict or slow something down, such as an engine, a network connection, or activity.

"The internet provider throttles speeds during peak hours."

To choke or strangle someone by gripping their throat.

"He grabbed the intruder and nearly throttled him."

How to use throttle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the control for an engine's power, or to restrict/choke something.

Easily confused with

throat →

Common pairings

open the throttle throttle internet speed throttle someone

Word forms

throttled past tense, throttles plural, throttles singular

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He eased off the _____ as he approached the corner.

Etymology

From an old diminutive of "throat" — literally "little throat" — since throttling originally meant squeezing someone's windpipe.

Synonyms

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gas gun limit bound restrict choke accelerator restrain confine strangle trammel gas pedal

Related words

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Rhymes for throttle

bottle

See all rhymes for throttle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “throttle” mean?

The word “throttle” means a valve or lever that controls how much fuel or air reaches an engine, and therefore its speed. In plain terms, either the control for an engine's power, or to restrict/choke something.

How do you pronounce “throttle”?

“Throttle” is pronounced THROT-l (/ˈθɹɔ.tl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “throttle” in a sentence?

Here is “throttle” used in a sentence: “He eased off the throttle as he approached the corner.”

What part of speech is “throttle”?

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

Is “throttle” a common word?

“Throttle” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “throttle” have?

“Throttle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a valve or lever that controls how much fuel or air reaches an engine, and therefore its speed.

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