gridlock

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A condition of total, interlocking traffic congestion on the streets or highways of a crowded city, in which no one can move because everyone is in someone else's way.
2. (countable, uncountable) On a smaller scale, the situation in which cars enter a signal-controlled intersection too late during the green light cycle, and are unable to clear the intersection (due to congestion in the next block) when the light turns red, thus blocking the cross traffic when it's their turn to go. Repeated at enough intersections, this phenomenon can lead to citywide gridlock.
3. (broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable) Any paralysis of a complex system due to severe congestion, conflict, or deadlock.
4. (alt-of, countable, deliberate, misspelling, uncountable) Deliberate misspelling of girlcock or girldick.

Verb

To cause traffic congestion.

Synonyms

traffic jam

congestion

holdup

backlog

rash

snarl-up

logjam

Translations

engarrafamento

atasco

embotellamiento

embouteillage

ingorgo

Stau

συνωστισμός

encombrement

impasse

imbottigliamento

intasamento

verkeersinfarct

verkeerschaos

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡɹɪdˌlɒk/

Etymology

From grid + lock.