choke
//tʃoʊk//
Verb
to be unable to breathe properly because something is blocking the throat or because of lack of air
He choked on a piece of bread.
to cause someone to stop breathing by blocking or squeezing their throat
The attacker tried to choke him with his bare hands.
to block or fill a passage, tube, or space so that nothing can pass through
Fallen leaves choked the drain.
to fail to perform well in a critical situation due to nervousness or pressure
He choked in the final round and lost the championship.
to prevent the growth or development of something
High taxes can choke economic growth.
Noun
a valve in a vehicle engine that controls the amount of air entering, used when starting a cold engine
Pull out the choke to start the cold engine.
the act or sound of choking or being unable to breathe
She gave a sudden choke and couldn't speak.