congest

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to block or overfill a road, place, or system with too much traffic, too many people, or too much material

   Delivery vehicles can congest the narrow street during the morning rush.

2. 2
   verb

   to become blocked or overfilled so that movement or flow is restricted

   The city center tends to congest after major events.

3. 3
   verb

   to fill a body part with fluid, mucus, or blood and obstruct its normal flow

   Seasonal allergies can congest the nasal passages.

From Latin congestus, the past participle of congerere ('to bring together, heap up'), from con- ('together') + gerere ('to carry'). English developed the senses of accumulating material, obstructing movement, and filling body tissue or passages. The unrelated Irish noun in the raw source is a separate homograph and is excluded here.

Topics