throttle

American  

[throt-l] / ˈθrɒt l /

noun

1. Also called throttle lever.  a lever, pedal, handle, etc., for controlling or manipulating a throttle valve.

2. throttle valve.

3. the throat, gullet, or windpipe, as of a horse.

---

verb (used with object)

throttled, throttling

1. to stop the breath of by compressing the throat; strangle.

2. to choke or suffocate in any way.

3. to compress by fastening something tightly around.

4. to silence or check as if by choking.

   His message was throttled by censorship.

5. Machinery.

   1. to obstruct or check the flow of (a fluid), as to control the speed of an engine.

   2. to reduce the pressure of (a fluid) by passing it from a smaller area to a larger one.

idioms

1. at full throttle, at maximum speed.

throttle British  

/ ˈθrɒtəl /

noun

1. Also called: throttle valve.  any device that controls the quantity of fuel or fuel and air mixture entering an engine

2. an informal or dialect word for throat

---

verb

1. to kill or injure by squeezing the throat

2. to suppress

   to throttle the press

3. to control or restrict (a flow of fluid) by means of a throttle valve

Other Word Forms

• throttler noun
• unthrottled adjective

Etymology

Origin of throttle

1350–1400; (v.) Middle English throtelen, frequentative of throten to cut the throat of (someone), strangle, derivative of throat; (noun) probably diminutive of Middle English throte throat; compare German Drossel

Example Sentences

The uncompromising approach of the world's self-described "coolest dictator" has apparently caused little outrage in a region throttled by organized crime.

From Barron's

It wants a rollback of existing tariffs as well as a reprieve from export controls on U.S. technology that have throttled the Chinese tech sector.

From The Wall Street Journal

These include recovering while at full throttle, known as "super-clip", and lifting and coasting, as well as the standard method, during braking.

From BBC

Chinese negotiators are likely to push for a rollback of existing tariffs and a reprieve from the export controls on advanced artificial-intelligence chips that have throttled China’s tech sector, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The deal announced this month has rattled India's powerful farmers' unions, who argue that cheap US imports would throttle local producers in a country where agriculture employs more than 700 million people.

From Barron's