# strangulation

/ˌstɹæŋɡjəˈɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /stɹˈænɡjʊlˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/strangulation
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

the act of stopping someone's breathing by pressing your hands or something else against their neck. It can also mean the blocking of a flow of liquid or gas.

For teachers: the act of killing or causing unconsciousness by compressing the neck or throat. In a technical context, it refers to the obstruction of a flow of fluid or gas through a tube or pipe.

## Examples

- The police arrested the man for attempted strangulation.
- The doctor warned that the swelling in the throat could lead to strangulation of the airway if not treated immediately.
- In mechanical engineering, the phenomenon of strangulation occurs when a fluid reaches the speed of sound within a nozzle, effectively halting any further increase in flow rate despite a drop in downstream pressure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.