clog

[klog, klawg]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clog ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), clogged, clog·ging.

to hinder or obstruct with thick or sticky matter; choke up: to clog a drain.

to crowd excessively, especially so that movement is impeded; overfill: Cars clogged the highway.

to encumber; hamper; hinder.

verb (used without object), clogged, clog·ging.

to become clogged, encumbered, or choked up.

to stick; stick together.

to do a clog dance.

noun

anything that impedes motion or action; an encumbrance; a hindrance.

a shoe or sandal with a thick sole of wood, cork, rubber, or the like.

a similar but lighter shoe worn in the clog dance.

a heavy block, as of wood, fastened to a person or beast to impede movement.

clog dance.

British Dialect. a thick piece of wood.

Origin of clog

1350–1400; Middle English, of uncertain origin

Related formsclog·gi·ly, adverbclog·gi·ness, nounclog·gy, adjectivean·ti·clog·ging, adjectiveo·ver·clog, verb (used with object), o·ver·clogged, o·ver·clog·ging.

Synonyms for clog

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clog ON THESAURUS.COM

3. impede, trammel, fetter.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for clogged

plug, obstruct, congest, choke, impede, seal, hamper, fill, jam, stopper, fetter, encumber, glut, shackle, trammel, leash, stuff, curb, burden, close

Examples from the Web for clogged

Contemporary Examples of clogged

He put its science in simple terms “Imagine you have clogged up plumbing due to debris,” Chatterjee said.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Come Closer to Eliminating Heart Disease
Dale Eisinger
April 25, 2014
In 2011, the wires were clogged with stories of a potential Peace Prize gong for Julian Assange.
Nobel Nomination Nonsense
Michael Moynihan
January 30, 2014
Leno asked about his recent cardiovascular surgery in which doctors installed a stent to open up a clogged artery.
W. Charms on the ‘Tonight’ Show
Lloyd Grove
November 20, 2013
The other story that clogged social media Monday also took aim at News Corp. and Rupert Murdoch.
Boston Marathon Bombing Media Errors Pile Up, as Does the Outrage
Michael Moynihan
April 18, 2013
His armpits were so clogged with fat that he'd developed chronic dermatosis.
Dog Fight Over Obie, the Dieting Dachshund
Winston Ross
November 4, 2012

Historical Examples of clogged

Then it was discovered that the offer was clogged with a further stipulation.
Is He Popenjoy?
Anthony Trollope
The thoroughfares were clogged by wagons laden with furniture and other spoils.
The Rise of the Hugenots, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Henry Martyn Baird
All about them it's surface was clogged with floating debris.
Prairie Flowers
James B. Hendryx
Arcot looked around, trying to decide what to do, but his brain was clogged.
Islands of Space
John W Campbell
Still with clogged energy the Russians worked to construct defenses.
The Story of Russia
R. Van Bergen, M.A.

British Dictionary definitions for clogged

clog

verb clogs, clogging or clogged

to obstruct or become obstructed with thick or sticky matter

(tr) to encumber; hinder; impede

(tr) to fasten a clog or impediment to (an animal, such as a horse)

(intr) to adhere or stick in a mass

slang (in soccer) to foul (an opponent)

noun

any of various wooden or wooden-soled shoes
(as modifier)clog dance

a heavy block, esp of wood, fastened to the leg of a person or animal to impede motion

something that impedes motion or action; hindrance

pop one's clogs slang to die

Derived Formscloggy, adjectiveclogginess, noun

Word Origin for clog

C14 (in the sense: block of wood): of unknown origin

clog

verb clogs, clogging or clogged

to use a photo-enabled mobile phone to take a photograph of (someone) and send it to a website without his or her knowledge or consent

Derived Formsclogging, noun

Word Origin for clog

C21: c(amera) + log

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clogged

clog

early 14c., clogge "a lump of wood," origin unknown. Also used in Middle English of large pieces of jewelry and large testicles. Cf. Norwegian klugu "knotty log of wood." Meaning "anything that impedes action" is from 1520s. The sense of "wooden-soled shoe" is first recorded late 14c.; they were used as overshoes until the introduction of rubbers c.1840. Originally all wood (hence the name), later wooden soles with leather uppers for the front of the foot only. Later revived in fashion (c.1970), primarily for women. Clog-dancing is attested from 1863.

clog

late 14c., "hinder," originally by fastening a block of wood to something, from clog (n.). Meaning "choke up with extraneous matter" is 17c. Related: Clogged; clogging.