throttle Meaning & Definition
What Does Throttle Mean?
As a noun, throttle means 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. It can also mean The lever or pedal that controls this valve. As a verb, it means To control or adjust the speed of (an engine).
Throttle at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈθɹɒtəl/ |
| Synonyms | restrain, limit and choke |
| Plural | throttles |
| Verb forms | throttles, throttling, throttled |
Throttle Definition (Noun)
- 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.
- The lever or pedal that controls this valve.
- The windpipe or trachea.
Throttle as a Verb
- To control or adjust the speed of (an engine).
- To cut back on the speed of (an engine, person, organization, network connection, etc.).
- To strangle or choke someone.
- To have the throat obstructed so as to be in danger of suffocation; to choke; to suffocate.
- To breathe hard, as when nearly suffocated.
- To utter with breaks and interruption, in the manner of a person half suffocated.
Synonyms of Throttle
Word Forms & Grammar
throttle (plural throttles)
throttle (third-person singular simple present throttles, present participle throttling, simple past and past participle throttled)
Words That Rhyme With Throttle
Origin of Throttle
Origin 1: From Middle English *throtel, diminutive of throte (“throat”), equivalent to throat + -le. Compare German Drossel (“throttle”). More at throat.
Origin 2: From Middle English throtlen (“to choke, strangle, suffocate”), from the noun (see above). Compare German erdrosseln (“to strangle, choke, throttle”).
Questions People Ask About Throttle
Is throttle a noun or a verb?
Throttle is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for throttle?
Words with a similar meaning to throttle include restrain, limit and choke. See the full list of throttle synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of throttle?
The plural of throttle is throttles.
What is the past tense of throttle?
The past tense of throttle is throttled. The present participle is throttling.