From Middle English choken (also cheken), from earlier acheken, from Old English āċēocian (“to choke”), probably derived from Old English ċēoce, ċēace (“jaw, cheek”), see cheek. Cognate with Icelandic kok (“throat”), koka (“to gulp”). See also achoke.
Meanings
A control on a carburetor to adjust the air/fuel mixture when the engine is cold.
Bond leapt for the Bentley, blessing the impulse which had made him drive it over after dinner. With the choke full out, the engine answered at once to the starter and the roar drowned the faltering words of the commissionaire who jumped aside as the rear wheels whipped gravel at his piped trouser-legs. 1953, Ian Fleming, “Black Hare and Grey Hound”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 104:
In wrestling, karate (etc.), a type of hold that can result in strangulation.
A constriction at the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel which affects the spread of the shot.
A partial or complete blockage (of boulders, mud, etc.) in a cave passage.
A choking coil.
A major mistake at a crucial stage of a competition because one is nervous, especially when one is winning.
da choker (control on a carburetor) · fi supistin (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · de Choke (control on a carburetor) · it starter (control on a carburetor) · sq mbytje (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · sv choke (control on a carburetor) · nl macht (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · de Würgebohrung (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · km ការថប់ (control on a carburetor) · vi sự nắm cổ người nào (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · af wurggreep (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · cs snížené (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · sv järngrepp (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · de Drossel (control on a carburetor) · cy tagu (control on a carburetor) · ga tachtóir (control on a carburetor) · fr mainmise (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · nb trangboring (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · af verstik (control on a carburetor) · tr jikle (control on a carburetor) · mi natihau (control on a carburetor) · eo stringovalvo (control on a carburetor) · ko 목조 르기 (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · th โช้ค (control on a carburetor) · ro șoc (control on a carburetor) · vi giảm (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · de Drossel (choking coil) · nb spjeld (control on a carburetor) · fi ryyppy (control on a carburetor) · gl reducido (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · km សន្ទះខ្យល់ (control on a carburetor) · tr indirimli (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · da kvælertag (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · km ឆូក (control on a carburetor) · ko 초크 (control on a carburetor) · ca obturador (control on a carburetor) · sq asfiksim (control on a carburetor) · pt mata-leão (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · de Würgegriff (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · bg смукач (control on a carburetor) · fi tukos (blockage in cave passage) · ru засло́нка (control on a carburetor) · nb choke (control on a carburetor) · km ការទប់ (control on a carburetor) · ga tachtadh (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · es estrangulamiento (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · el εμφράκτης (control on a carburetor) · fr réduit (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · el τσοκ (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · el τσοκ (control on a carburetor) · de Versturz (blockage in cave passage) · es estrangulador (control on a carburetor) · de Drosselspule (choking coil) · fr starter (control on a carburetor) · tr bastırma (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · nb kvelertak (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · ga tachtaire (control on a carburetor) · fi rikastin (control on a carburetor) · sk zníženej (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · da drosselspole (choking coil) · pl ssanie (control on a carburetor) · sv choketub (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · sh smanjen (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · nl choke (control on a carburetor) · fi kuristusote (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · cs sytič (control on a carburetor) · mk саух (control on a carburetor) · ja チョーク弁 (control on a carburetor) · es ahogador (control on a carburetor) · pl uścisk (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · da trangboring (constriction at a shotgun barrel) · sq valvul ajri (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · es cebador (control on a carburetor) · sk škrtenie (type of hold in wrestling etc.) · pt afogador (control on a carburetor)
From Middle English choken (also cheken), from earlier acheken, from Old English āċēocian (“to choke”), probably derived from Old English ċēoce, ċēace (“jaw, cheek”), see cheek. Cognate with Icelandic kok (“throat”), koka (“to gulp”). See also achoke.
Meanings
(intransitive) To be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe (for instance food or other objects that go down the wrong way, or fumes or particles in the air that cause the throat to constrict).
Lenore began to choke with the fine dust and to feel her eyes smart and to see it settle on her hands and dress. 1919, Zane Grey, chapter 6, in The Desert of Wheat, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, page 66:
Ever since he choked on a bone, he has refused to eat fish.
See your brain - Choke, choke, choke
Watch it drain - Choke, choke, choke
See your greed - Choke, choke, choke
Watch it breed - Choke, choke, choke
Fake, you're falling down
Choke, your neck is broken 1998, “Choke”, in Igor Cavalera, Andreas Kisser (music), Against, performed by Sepultura, Track 2:
Passengers on the earliest railway services would not even have enjoyed the luxury of a platform, instead having to step up onto the waiting open top wagons, where they would experience a journey that left many choking on the plumes of smoke exhaled by the leading locomotive. 2025 July 9, Oliver Wheeler, “Action stations...”, in RAIL, number 1039, page 68:
(transitive) To prevent (someone) from breathing or talking by strangling or filling the windpipe.
The man became insane; he stood over me, choking me with one fist and beating me in the face with the other […] 1918, Willa Cather, chapter 15, in My Ántonia, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, pages 282–283:
The collar of this shirt is too tight; it’s choking me.
With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder: 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene 1]:
Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 8:33:
(transitive) To obstruct (a passage, etc.) by filling it up or clogging it.
This was a Passage, so rugged, so uneven, and choaked with so many Thorns and Briars, that it was a melancholy Spectacle to behold the Pains and Difficulties which both Sexes suffered who walked through it. 1709 January 14, Joseph Addison, “The lucubrations of Isaac Bickerstaff Esq.”, in The Tatler, volume 3, number 120, London, published 1712, page 31:
The waterfall is now a trickle, and the pool is choked with algae and drowned leaves and broken-off branches. 2012, Tan Twan Eng, chapter 13, in The Garden of Evening Mists, New York: Weinstein Books, page 168:
to choke a cave passage with boulders and mud
But at Christmas the pavements were crowded with overdressed shoppers from the country, the streets choked with slow but strident traffic. 1961, V. S. Naipaul, A House for Mr Biswas, Penguin, published 1992, Part 2, Chapter 4, p. 492:
There have been predictions that within a few years all roads within a 17-mile radius of the Airport will be choked. 1962 April, “London Airport rail link”, in Modern Railways, page 222:
(transitive) To hinder or check, as growth, expansion, progress, etc.; to kill (a plant by robbing it of nutrients); to extinguish (fire by robbing it of oxygen).
And some [seeds] fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 13:7:
1697, John Dryden (translator), “The Fifth Pastoral,” lines 55-56, in The Works of Virgil, London: Jacob Tonson, p. 22,
No fruitful Crop the sickly Fields return;
But Oats and Darnel choak the rising Corn.
I have cut maize stalks or green plants with which he means to choke the flames. 1998, Nuruddin Farah, chapter 3, in Secrets, Penguin, published 1999, page 67:
Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted;
Suffer them now, and they’ll o’ergrow the garden
And choke the herbs for want of husbandry. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
(colloquial, intransitive) To perform badly at a crucial stage of a competition, especially when one appears to be clearly winning.
He has a lot of talent, but he tends to choke under pressure.
“I can’t say that I choked on those match points,” Williams said. “She literally played her best tennis ever on those shots.” 2019 January 22, “1 Point Away, Serena Stunned by Pliskova at Australian Open”, in The New York Times:
(transitive) To move one's fingers very close to the tip of a pencil, brush or other art tool.
A brief tryout will demonstrate that the modified grip does indeed make it difficult to “choke” the pencil or apply excessive pressure to the paper. 1973, Wayne Otto et al., chapter 13, in Corrective and Remedial Teaching, 2nd edition, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, page 361:
(transitive) To hold the club or bat lower on the shaft in order to shorten one's swing.
Take a grip with your right hand, slightly choked down from your normal grip. 2014, Roger Fredericks, The Flexible Golf Swing, page 108:
(intransitive) To be checked or stopped, as if by choking
[…] the words choked in his throat. 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter XVIII, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
Speech choked in Eugene’s throat. 1929, Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel, New York: Modern Library, Part 3, Chapter 29, p. 413:
(transitive) To check or stop (an utterance or voice) as if by choking.
A hundred times fain he would have spoke, but still his rising Passion choak’d his Words; 1684, Aphra Behn, “The Amours of Philander and Silvia”, in Love-Letters between a Noble-man and his Sister, London, page 277:
At that I opened my mouth to speak, and found a hoarse phlegm choked my voice. 1896, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “Chapter 9”, in The Island of Doctor Moreau (Heinemann’s Colonial Library of Popular Fiction; 52), London: William Heinemann, →OCLC; republished as The Island of Doctor Moreau: A Possibility, New York, N.Y.: Stone & Kimball, 1896, →OCLC:
Her laugh got choked by a sob. 1905, William John Locke, chapter 20, in The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne:
[…] tears choked the utterance of the dame de compagnie, and she buried her crushed affections and her poor old red nose in her pocket handkerchief. 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 14, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
Danny let out a soft, half-choked, trembling moan. 1967, Chaim Potok, chapter 18, in The Chosen, New York: Ballantine, published 1982, page 282:
(intransitive) To have a feeling of strangulation in one's throat as a result of passion or strong emotion.
Grobstock began to choke with chagrin. 1894, Israel Zangwill, chapter 2, in The King of Schnorrers, New York: Macmillan, page 48:
2007, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Wizard of the Crow, New York: Knopf Doubleday, Book 3, p. 435,
Tajirika felt himself choking with anger. How dare those hussies interfere with his business?
(transitive) To give (someone) a feeling of strangulation as a result of passion or strong emotion.
Charlotte made herself stiff, controlling sudden choking emotion. 1971, Iris Murdoch, An Accidental Man, New York: Viking, page 42:
And my remembrance of them both, choking me, I broke down […] and laid my face in my hands upon the table. 1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, chapter 13, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC:
[…] I am very sensible how much the Gentlemen of Wit and Pleasure are apt to murmur, and be choqued at the Sight of so many daggled-tail Parsons, who happen to fall in their Way, and offend their Eyes […] 1712, Jonathan Swift, “An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity”, in The Works of J.S., volume 1, Dublin: George Faulkner, published 1735, page 104:
I shall run distracted. My rage choaks me. 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, London: F. Newbery, act IV, page 80:
(transitive) To say (something) with one’s throat constricted (due to emotion, for example).
“The bastards!” he choked. “I hope they are all caught and hanged!” 1995, Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance, London: Faber and Faber, published 1997, Epilogue, p. 583:
‘There is the padre!’ Kim choked as bare-headed Father Victor sailed down upon them from the veranda. 1901, Rudyard Kipling, chapter 6, in Kim:
(transitive) To use the choke valve of (a vehicle) to adjust the air/fuel mixture in the engine.
The engine caught, spluttered, and roared as Tom choked the car delicately. 1939, John Steinbeck, chapter 26, in The Grapes of Wrath, New York: Viking, published 1962, page 492:
(intransitive, of a duct, qualifier:fluid mechanics) To reach a condition of maximum flowrate, due to the flow at the narrowest point of the duct becoming sonic (Ma = 1).
To make or install a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel of a shotgun.
pt sufocar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · es enforcar (desus.) (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · unm aluhwi (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh ugúšiti se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl udusić (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · grc ἀσφυκτιῶ (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · de unterdrücken (to hinder growth of a plant especially as by weeds) · pt asfixiar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · lmo stofegar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mn бүгших (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · gl torgar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · uk удуши́ти (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ca ennuegar-se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · nl stikken (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · bg уду́швам (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ru задохну́ться (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · es aforcar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · el πνίγω (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · vi nghẹn (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ja 窒息させる (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sk dusiť sa (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · el πνίγω (to hinder growth of a plant especially as by weeds) · cs škrtit (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · be прыдушы́ць (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · cs zadusit (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · th บีบคอ (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sh ugušívati se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · da kvæles (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · be задушы́ць (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · bg задуша́вам (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · grc πνίγω (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · es engolliparse (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · lt springti (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sv kväva (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · it asfissiare (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · da blive kvalt (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · be даві́цца (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fr suffoquer (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · eo sufoki (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · kmr fetisîn (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ckb خنکان (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ga plúch (to hinder growth of a plant especially as by weeds) · ar خَنَقَ (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · uk дави́тися (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · es atragantarse (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pt sufocar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · vi bóp cổ (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · uk задуши́ти (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · gl afogar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · cmn 使窒息 (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · cs dusit se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fr étouffer (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · el πνίγομαι (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ko 질식하다 (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · hu fullad (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fi tukehtua (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · la angō (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ca escanyar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ko 질식시키다 (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sk dusiť (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ru подави́ться (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ru задуши́ть (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · hu megfojt (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · enm stranglen (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · gl atragoar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mn хахах (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl zdławić się (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mn боох (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · gl apedar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · gl afogar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · gl aganar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · uk задихну́тися (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl zadławić się (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · cmn 嗆 /呛 (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl dławić się (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ru дави́ться (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl krztusić się (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · grc ἄγχω (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · enm acheken (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mk задавува (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mk задушува (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sk udusiť (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · km ខក់ (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ja 窒息する (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · it strangolare (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mk се души (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl udusić się (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · nb kvele (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · kix thīp-àh (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ms cekik (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · cs udusit (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ru удуши́ть (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · es asfixiar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sh ду́шити (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · yi דערשטיקן (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · pt esganar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · km ឈ្លក់ (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pt engasgar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · got 𐌰𐍆𐍈𐌰𐍀𐌾𐌰𐌽 (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · fr juguler (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ja 噎せる (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · unm këpixkwèna (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · pox ai̯dovĕt (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ru задыха́ться (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ga plúch (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · uk задиха́тися (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sl dušiti se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh угуши́вати (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ckb خنکاندن (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · es ahorcar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · yi דערשטיקט ווערן (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · eo sufokiĝi (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mk задуши (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · vi hóc (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · he חָנַק (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sl zadušiti se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · cs dusit (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sk zadusiť (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · fa خفه شدن (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · be падаві́цца (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · es enhorcar (desus.) (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · bg задуша́ (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · be удушы́ць (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · la offōcō (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · es ahogarse (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · cmn 噎住 (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · da kvæle (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · gd mùch (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · crh boğmaq (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · lt smaugti (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ca ofegar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · pl dusić się (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · az boğmaq (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · es sofocarse (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mi kōwaowao (to hinder growth of a plant especially as by weeds) · de ersticken (to hinder growth of a plant especially as by weeds) · ru придуши́ть (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · be затыха́цца (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mn багалзуурдах (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mk гуши (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mk се гуши (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh угу́шити се (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · cy tagu (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mi rāo(w)a (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · es atarugarse (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · bg задъ́хвам се (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · de verschlucken (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · bg зада́вя (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · nl verstikken (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · km ច្របាច់ក (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · zdj ukalwa (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mi nanati (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · eo strangoli (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · la strangulō (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · es atorarse (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · be душы́ць (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · eu ito (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · lmo sofegar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · gd tachd (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sh угу́шити (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · el ασφυκτιώ (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sk udusiť sa (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh гу́шити (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · de ersticken (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ro sufoca (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh gúšiti (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · pt estrangular (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · tyz cà (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · es estrangular (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · az boğulmaq (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · th สำลัก (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sl dušiti (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · gl oufegar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ga tacht (to hinder growth of a plant especially as by weeds) · es cruzazulear (perform badly at a competition despite appearing to be winning) · cmn 窒息 (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · kmr fetisandin (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · lmo stofegar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fi kuristua (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · it strozzare (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · uk души́ти (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ru души́ть (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · de würgen (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · cmn 呛 (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fa خفه کردن (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · mk задави (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ga tacht (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · bg зада́вям (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · pt afogar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · be затхну́цца (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · tr boğmak (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · th หายใจติดขัด (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh ugúšiti (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · bg задъ́хам се (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fi tikahtua (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ca ofegar-se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · la suffōcō (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · kix thōngíe (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ga tacht (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · ota بوغمق (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · he נחנק (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl zakrztusić się (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · be зато́хнуцца (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh dúšiti (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · nl wurgen (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sh ugušívati (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · sl zadušiti (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · uk подави́тися (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · lmo sofegar (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · hy խեղդել (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · gl esganar (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · enm choken (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · bg задуша́вам се (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · pl dusić (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · ar اِخْتَنَقَ (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fr s'étouffer (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · sh угуши́вати се (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · hy խեղդվել (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mk души (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them) · cy tagu (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · de ersticken (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · it soffocare (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · cs udusit se (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · bg задуша́ се (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mi kane (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · mn цацах (be unable to breathe because of obstruction of the windpipe) · fi kuristaa (prevent someone from breathing by strangling them)
The mass of immature florets in the centre of the bud of an artichoke.
Once all the leaves are gone, a hairy little island will remain in the middle of the artichoke. This is the “choke.” A gentleman uses his knife and fork to slice it away, uncovering the delicious artichoke “heart” underneath. [2004, John Bridges, Bryan Curtis, A Gentleman at the Table, Thomas Nelson, →ISBN, page 60: