noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈstɹæŋɡ(j)əˌleɪ̯ʃ(ə)n/without æ-raising
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ˈstɹeɪ̯ŋɡ(j)əˌleɪ̯ʃ(ə)n/æ-raising
/ˈstɹɛ̃ŋɡ(j)əˌleɪ̯ʃ(ə)n/æ-raising
CMU ARPABET:S T R AE2 NG G Y AH0 L EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of strangling or the state of being strangled.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The constriction of the air passage or other body part that cuts off the flow of a fluid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the act of suffocating (someone) by constricting the windpipe
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
no evidence that the choking was done by the accused
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: choking, strangling, throttling
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: suffocation, asphyxiation
4
noun
Meaning 4
(pathology) constriction of a body part so as to cut off the flow of blood or other fluid
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
strangulation of the intestine
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: constriction
5
noun
Meaning 5
the condition of having respiration stopped by compression of the air passage
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: disorder, upset
History
Etymology
From Latin strangulatio (“choking, suffocation”), from strangulare (“to choke, suffocate”); see strangle.
Across languages
Translations
10 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
задушаване
(zadušavane)
— act of strangling
Catalan:
estrangulació
— act of strangling
Dutch:
wurging
— act of strangling
Dutch:
worging
— act of strangling
Ancient Greek:
ἀγχόνη
(ankhónē)
— act of strangling