English Reference
verb · noun

strangle

v. · n.
US /ˈstɹæŋɡəɫ/ UK /stɹˈæŋɡəl/ stran·gle UK spelling strangled, strangling

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to kill or injure someone by squeezing their neck so they cannot breathe.

    v.to kill or incapacitate by compressing the throat, thereby obstructing the airway or blood flow.

    Simple

    The attacker tried to strangle the victim, but she managed to fight him off.

    In context

    Forensic evidence suggested the victim was strangled with a silk scarf, as there were distinct ligature marks around the neck area.

    throttlechokestrangulate
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    n.a way of trading where you bet that a price will move a lot, but you are not sure if it will go up or down.

    n.An options strategy involving the simultaneous purchase of a put and a call with different strike prices but the same expiration date.

    Simple

    The investor decided to buy a strangle because she expected the market to be very volatile.

    In context

    By executing a strangle, the trader aimed to profit from a significant price swing in the underlying stock following the earnings announcement.

    Usage

    Usually refers to a 'long strangle' or 'short strangle' depending on the investor's position.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly specialized term in finance; learners should not confuse it with a 'straddle', which uses the same strike price.

The Probation Service incorrectly assessed Kendall as medium risk, despite the fact he had strangled Hall, threatened her with weapons and police had received 34 pieces ofintelligence about his abuse against her.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

They’ll make strange, strangled barks and chittering noises, curling their tongues, playing with one another and urinating.

Smithsonian Magazine· 25 Aug 2026

From Middle English stranglen, from Old French estrangler, from Latin strangulō, strangulāre, from Ancient Greek στραγγαλόομαι (strangalóomai, “to be strangled”), from στραγγάλη (strangálē, “a halter”); compare στραγγός (strangós, “twisted”) and string. Displaced Middle English wirien, awurien (“to strangle”) (> English worry).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek στραγγαλόομαι
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated