throttle

Noun

1. A valve that regulates the supply of fuel-air mixture to an internal combustion engine and thus controls its speed; a similar valve that controls the air supply to an engine.
2. The lever or pedal that controls this valve.
3. (archaic) The windpipe or trachea.

Verb

1. (transitive) To control or adjust the speed of (an engine).
2. (transitive) To cut back on the speed of (an engine, person, organization, network connection, etc.).
3. (transitive) To strangle or choke someone.
4. (intransitive) To have the throat obstructed so as to be in danger of suffocation; to choke; to suffocate.
5. (intransitive) To breathe hard, as when nearly suffocated.
6. (transitive) To utter with breaks and interruption, in the manner of a person half suffocated.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈθɹɒt.l̩/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English:

Cognate with German: Drossel

Inherited from Middle English: throtlen

Cognate with German: erdrosseln

In summary

From Middle English *throtel, diminutive of throte (“throat”), equivalent to throat + -le. Compare German Drossel (“throttle”). More at throat.

Synonyms

strangle

choke

strangulate

accelerator

suffocate

gas

gun

🔫

limit

gas pedal

throttle valve

press

regulator

accelerator pedal

drown

squeeze

stifle

bound

trammel

garrote

valve

garrotte

restrain

restrict

scrag

confine

register

restricting

restriction

slaughter

smother

spew

starter

stymie

subtract

taper

get in the way

trim

weaken

factor out

trim back

stress

gas-feed

stop valve

reduce expenditure

throttle flap

impedance coil

retardation coil

choke flow

inductive choke

flow regulating valve