throttle
THROT-ul
/ˈθrɒtl/
A device controlling the flow of fuel or power to an engine; to control or choke.
In racing, 'full throttle' means maximum power. As a verb, it can also mean to restrict or strangle.
The story behind the word. The word comes from 'throat.' Just as a throat can be squeezed to restrict air, a mechanical throttle restricts the 'breath' (air/fuel) of an engine.
Word relationships
- accelerator: The accelerator is the pedal; the throttle is the valve it controls.
Commonly confused with
- brake: The throttle increases power; the brake decreases speed.
Word family
- throttled (verb): Past tense of throttle; also means restricted.
- throttling (verb): The act of controlling the throttle.
Collocations
- full throttle
- throttle response
- wide-open throttle
Idioms & expressions
- at full throttle
Example sentences
- "You need to ease off the throttle before entering the apex." Racing instruction
- "He went full throttle down the straightaway." Action description
Memory hook
The throttle is the throat of the car. Choke the engine for power.
When not to use
Don't confuse with the 'accelerator' pedal itself, though they are often used interchangeably in casual speech.
Fun facts
- In computing, 'throttling' is the intentional slowing of a computer processor to prevent overheating.
Related words
Explore more words
bottleneck, congestion, chokepoint, fuel, transmission, accelerate
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