strangle
[ strang-guhl ]
/ ˈstræŋ gəl /
verb (used with object), stran·gled, stran·gling.
to kill by squeezing the throat in order to compress the windpipe and prevent the intake of air, as with the hands or a tightly drawn cord.
to kill by stopping the breath in any manner; choke; stifle; suffocate.
to prevent the continuance, growth, rise, or action of; suppress: Censorship strangles a free press.
verb (used without object), stran·gled, stran·gling.
to be choked, stifled, or suffocated.
RELATED CONTENT
The United States Of Diversity: Bordersby Taneesh Khera In April, 2018 I traveled to India for a college friend’s wedding. When I came back, I read part of this essay to two friends, and we began to discuss borders and what they’ve become today. That conversation was inspiration for this episode, so grab a cushion and get comfortable for the United States of Diversity: Borders.
Nearby words
Origin of strangle
1250–1300; Middle English strangelen < Old French estrangler < Latin strangulāre < Greek strangalân, derivative of strangálē halter, akin to strangós twisted
Related formsstran·gler, nounstran·gling·ly, adverbun·stran·gled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for strangle
British Dictionary definitions for strangle
strangle
/ (ˈstræŋɡəl) /
verb
(tr) to kill by compressing the windpipe; throttle
(tr) to prevent or inhibit the growth or development ofto strangle originality
(tr) to suppress (an utterance) by or as if by swallowing suddenlyto strangle a cry
See also strangles
Word Origin for strangle
C13: via Old French, ultimately from Greek strangalē a halter
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 strangle
strangle
c.1300, from Old French estrangler, from Latin strangulare "to choke, stifle, check, constrain," from Greek strangalan "choke, twist," from strangale "a halter, cord, lace," related to strangos "twisted," from PIE root *strenk- "tight, narrow; pull tight, twist" (see strain (v.)). Related: Strangled; strangling.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for strangle
strangle
[ străng′gəl ]
v.
To compress the trachea so as to prevent sufficient passage of air; suffocate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.