strangles

UK: /ˈstræŋɡ^əlz/ US: (strang′gəlz)

From the verb strangle: (⇒ conjugate)

strangles is: ⓘ

v 3rd person singular

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stran•gles  (strang′gəlz), n. (used with a sing. v.) [Vet. Pathol.]

1. Veterinary Diseases distemper¹ (def. 1b).

• obsolete strangle act of strangling + -s³ 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

strangles / ˈstræŋɡ^əlz/ noun

1. (functioning as singular) an acute bacterial disease of horses caused by infection with Streptococcus equi, characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, resulting in abscesses and a nasal discharge
   Also called: equine distemper

Etymology: 18th Century: from strangle

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stran•gle /ˈstræŋgəl/   v., -gled, -gling. 

1. Pathology to kill by squeezing the throat and preventing air from coming in:
   [~ + object] I was so angry I could have strangled you.
2. to prevent, block, or hold back the growth or action of:
   [~ + object] Censorship strangles a free press.

stran•gler, n. [countable]
stran•gling, adj.: 

He made a strangling noise in his throat.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stran•gle  (strang′gəl), v., -gled, -gling. 
v.t. 

1. to kill by squeezing the throat in order to compress the windpipe and prevent the intake of air, as with the hands or a tightly drawn cord.
2. Pathology to kill by stopping the breath in any manner;
   choke;
   stifle;
   suffocate.
3. to prevent the continuance, growth, rise, or action of;
   suppress:
   Censorship strangles a free press.

v.i. 

4. Pathology to be choked, stifled, or suffocated.

• Greek strangalân, derivative of strangálē halter, akin to strangós twisted
• Latin strangulāre
• Old French estrangler
• Middle English strangelen 1250–1300

stran′gler, n. 
stran′gling•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. garrote, throttle, choke.
• 2. smother.
• 3. check, repress, gag, muzzle.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

strangle / ˈstræŋɡ^əl/ verb

1. (transitive) to kill by compressing the windpipe; throttle
2. (transitive) to prevent or inhibit the growth or development of: to strangle originality
3. (transitive) to suppress (an utterance) by or as if by swallowing suddenly: to strangle a cry

Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French, ultimately from Greek strangalē a halter