choke

US /tʃoʊk/
UK /tʃoʊk/
"choke" picture
1.

have severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat or a lack of air

:
He started to choke on a piece of bread.
The smoke made her cough and choke.
2.

prevent someone from breathing by constricting their throat

:
The attacker tried to choke him.
He was found dead, apparently having been choked.
3.

fail to perform effectively because of nervousness, especially in a sporting contest

:
The team tends to choke under pressure in big games.
He choked on the final putt and lost the tournament.
1.

a device for enriching the fuel-air mixture in a gasoline engine, used when starting from cold

:
He pulled out the choke to start the old car.
The mechanic adjusted the choke on the carburetor.