strangle meaning and definition

STRANGLE verb

Definition of strangle (verb)

1. kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air
   • "he tried to strangle his opponent"; "A man in Boston has been strangling several dozen prostitutes"
   • synonyms: strangulate, throttle
2. conceal or hide
   • "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a yawn"
   • synonyms: muffle, repress, smother, stifle
3. die from strangulation
4. prevent the progress or free movement of
   • "He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperialist nation wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small countries"
   • synonyms: cramp, halter, hamper
5. constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing
   • synonyms: choke
6. struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake
   • "he swallowed a fishbone and gagged"
   • synonyms: choke, gag, suffocate