First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
strangle
verb stran·gle \ˈstraŋ-gəl\
: to kill (a person or animal) by squeezing the throat
: to stop (something) from growing or developing
stran·gledstran·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of STRANGLE
transitive verb
1
2
: to suppress or hinder the rise, expression, or growth of <repression strangles free speech>
intransitive verb
1
: to become strangled
2
: to die from or as if from interference with breathing
— stran·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun
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Origin of STRANGLE
Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangler, from Latin strangulare, from Greek strangalan, from strangalē halter — more at strain
STRANGLER Defined for Kids
strangle
verb stran·gle \ˈstraŋ-gəl\
stran·gledstran·gling
Definition of STRANGLE for Kids
1
: to choke to death by squeezing the throat
2
: to die or suffer from or as if from being choked
— stran·gler \-glər\ noun
Medical Dictionary
strangle
verb stran·gle \ˈstraŋ-gəl\
stran·gledstran·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\
Medical Definition of STRANGLE
transitive verb
1
: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope)
2
: to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of <the bone wedged in his throat and strangled him>
intransitive verb
1
: to become strangled : undergo a severe interference with breathing
2
: to die from interference with breathing
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