choke-v; 7 Senses

Sense Number 1: have or cause to have impaired or blocked respiration

Commentary:
NOTE: The thing having its respiration blocked must be animate.

Examples:
The foul air is choking the children.
The canary choked on the poisoned air.
The collar was choking the cat.
The suspect told police he didn't mean to choke her.
She choked on a pretzel and passed out.

Mappings:
VerbNet: suffocate-40.7
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: choke.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 14

Sense Number 2: have difficulty breathing or speaking due to strong emotions

Examples:
He choked with emotion as he praised the staff.
I always get choked up at weddings.

Mappings:
VerbNet: suffocate-40.7
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: choke.04
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 3: become or cause to become obstructed

Commentary:
NOTE: The thing choked is inanimate.

Examples:
The gutters were choked with leaves.
The tulips were choked by weeds.
I25 is always choked with commuters this time of day.
Small roots penetrate the bag, but they are choked off as they increase in diameter.
Public hospitals are choked up with bludgers lining up with head colds instead of paying to see a GP.

Mappings:
VerbNet: fill-9.8
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: choke.02,choke.03
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 8
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
choke_up 1
choke_off 2

Sense Number 4: suppress, check or trap

Examples:
She choked her anger.
I asked him how he was doing, and he choked back a sob.
He choked down his fear just to put on the harness.
He choked off unneeded imports so decisively that the country showed a favorable balance of trade that year.
Mary is choking John with all her affection.
Lionel's job is choking him.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 7, 10, 11
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
choke_back 1
choke_down 1
choke_off 1

Sense Number 5: change one's grip

Examples:
You'll get more force if you choke up on the bat.
He choked down on his driver and gently pulled his club back over the top.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: NM

Sense Number 6: reduce the air intake of a carburetor

Examples:
It lacks a great deal of explanation covering how to choke the carburetor.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 13

Sense Number 7: fail to preform adequately due to tension

Examples:
The team choked in the final inning.
It was up to Hans to win the game, but at the last minute he choked.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NP
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 6