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choke

v. · n.
US //ˈtʃoʊk// UK //tʃˈəʊk// choke
  1. 1 unable to breathe (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to have trouble breathing because your throat is blocked or the air is dirty.

    to experience a blockage of the windpipe that prevents normal respiration. Often used intransitively with 'on'.

    Example

    He started to choke on a piece of apple and needed help immediately.

    Example

    The thick smoke from the forest fire caused the residents to choke as they tried to evacuate the valley.
    Pitfall
    He was choking by a piece of bread.
    He was choking on a piece of bread.

    Use the preposition 'on' to indicate the object causing the blockage.

  2. 2 to block a passage (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to fill a space so that nothing can pass through it.

    to obstruct a passage, pipe, or channel by filling it with debris or a high volume of traffic.

    Example

    Leaves and dirt began to choke the drain during the heavy rain.

    Example

    Abandoned vehicles continued to choke the main arterial roads, making it impossible for emergency services to reach the city centre.
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  1. 3 to fail under pressure (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Sport

    to perform badly in a game or test because you are very nervous.

    to fail to perform effectively at a critical moment in a competition due to psychological pressure.

    Example

    The team was winning by ten points, but they started to choke in the final minutes.

    Example

    Despite his status as the tournament favourite, he appeared to choke during the final set, committing several unforced errors that cost him the title.

    Teacher's tip

    Commonly used in sports commentary to describe a sudden loss of composure.
  2. 4 to be overcome by emotion (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to find it hard to speak because you are feeling a very strong emotion.

    to have the voice or throat constricted by strong emotion, such as grief or anger.

    Example

    She began to choke up as she talked about her childhood home.

    Example

    He tried to finish his speech, but he was choked with emotion and had to step away from the microphone.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrasal verb 'choke up'.
    • struggle to speak
  3. 5 engine part (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Technical

    a part in an engine that controls the amount of air coming in.

    a valve in the carburettor of an internal combustion engine used to enrich the fuel-air mixture.

    Example

    You might need to pull the choke to get the old car started on a cold morning.

    Example

    The mechanic adjusted the manual choke to ensure the engine would idle smoothly during the winter months.

  4. 6 artichoke part (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Cooking

    the fuzzy, inedible part in the middle of an artichoke vegetable.

    the mass of immature florets in the centre of an artichoke bud, which must be removed before eating.

    Example

    Be careful to scrape away the hairy choke before you serve the artichoke hearts.

    Example

    After steaming the vegetable, use a spoon to carefully remove the fibrous choke from the base.

Etymology 1

From Middle English choken (also cheken), from earlier acheken, from Old English āċēocian (“to choke”), probably derived from Old English ċēoce, ċēace (“jaw, cheek”), see cheek. Cognate with Icelandic kok (“throat”), koka (“to gulp”). See also achoke.

Etymology 2

Back-formation from artichoke.

Idioms3 entries

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