constrict
verb /kənˈstrɪkt/
/kənˈstrɪkt/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they constrict | /kənˈstrɪkt/ /kənˈstrɪkt/ |
| he / she / it constricts | /kənˈstrɪkts/ /kənˈstrɪkts/ |
| past simple constricted | /kənˈstrɪktɪd/ /kənˈstrɪktɪd/ |
| past participle constricted | /kənˈstrɪktɪd/ /kənˈstrɪktɪd/ |
| -ing form constricting | /kənˈstrɪktɪŋ/ /kənˈstrɪktɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to become tighter or narrower; to make something tighter or narrower
- Her throat constricted and she swallowed hard.
- constrict something a drug that constricts the blood vessels
- constrict somebody to limit what somebody is able to do
- Film-makers of the time were constricted by the censors.
- constricting rules and regulations
Word Originmid 18th cent.: from Latin constrict- ‘bound tightly together’, from the verb constringere.