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.

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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

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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

In really hot places such as Texas and Arizona, cooling systems struggle, either using excessive water to cool or having to throttle the chips to stop them from overheating.

From Los Angeles Times

George throttled down to steer around a slow SUV that didn’t know how to drive in the snow or didn’t know where it was going.

From Literature

The so-called “cooperative steering” function permits drivers to make brief, fine-grained adjustments to the steering and throttle without canceling.

From The Wall Street Journal

The short-term impact of opening the fiscal, monetary and credit throttles is easy to predict: rapid growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Before long, he was confidently diagnosing the vehicle’s issue: a loose throttle body cable.

From Los Angeles Times