choke
noun
a coil of low resistance and high inductance used in electrical circuits to pass direct current and attenuate alternating current
a valve that controls the flow of air into the carburetor of a gasoline engine
verb
breathe with great difficulty, as when experiencing a strong emotion
“She choked with emotion when she spoke about her deceased husband”
be too tight; rub or press
“This neckband is choking the cat”
wring the neck of
“The man choked his opponent”
Synonymsscragconstrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing
Synonymsstranglestruggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake
“he swallowed a fishbone and gagged”
fail to perform adequately due to tension or agitation
“The team should have won hands down but choked, disappointing the coach and the audience”
check or slow down the action or effect of
“She choked her anger”
become or cause to become obstructed
“The leaves clog our drains in the Fall”
“The water pipe is backed up”
impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of
“The foul air was slowly suffocating the children”
become stultified, suppressed, or stifled
“He is suffocating--living at home with his aged parents in the small village”
Synonymssuffocatesuppress the development, creativity, or imagination of
“His job suffocated him”
Synonymssuffocatepass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
“She died from cancer”
“The children perished in the fire”
reduce the air supply
“choke a carburetor”
Synonymsthrottlecause to retch or choke
Synonymsgag
Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University