constrict

To narrow, especially by application of pressure.

Verb

  1. To narrow, especially by application of pressure.
    • constrict the airway
    • constrict blood vessels
    • Clothing that is too tight can constrict blood flow.
  2. To coil around (prey) in order to asphyxiate it. (of a snake)
    • The snake began to constrict its prey.
  3. To limit or restrict.

    Synonyms: inhibit

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin cōn- Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ-der. Proto-Indo-European *streyg-der. Latin stringō Latin cōnstringō Latin cōnstrictusbor. English constrict Borrowed from Latin cōnstrictus (“compressed, contracted”), past participle of cōnstringō (“to draw or bind together; to compress”). Doublet of constrain.

Forms

constricts constricting constricted

Related

constraint constriction constrictor restrict strict

Derived

constrictive hyperconstrict nonconstricting reconstrict unconstrict vasoconstrict