strangle

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air

   The defendant was accused of strangling the victim.

2. 2
   verb

   To kill someone by squeezing the throat so as to cut off the oxygen supply.

   She strangled her husband and dissolved the body in acid.

3. 3
   verb

   To stifle or suppress.

   He strangled a scream.

4. 4
   verb

   To be killed by strangulation, or become strangled.

   The cat slipped from the branch and strangled on its bell-collar.

5. 5
   verb

   To be stifled, choked, or suffocated in any manner.

   Shall I not then be stifled in the vault, / […] And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?

6. 6
   verb

   struggle for breath

7. 7
   verb

   constrict (someone's) throat and keep from breathing

8. 8
   verb

   prevent the progress or free movement of

Etymology

From Middle English stranglen, from Old French estrangler, from Latin strangulō, strangulāre, from Ancient Greek στραγγαλόομαι (strangalóomai, “to be strangled”), from στραγγάλη (strangálē, “a halter”); compare στραγγός (strangós, “twisted”) and string. Displaced Middle English wirien, awurien (“to strangle”) (> English worry).