0 a valve which allows more or less fuel to go into an engine and so changes the power with which the engine operates --
1 to press someone's throat very tightly so that they cannot breathe: --
informal Sometimes he annoys me so much that I could throttle him.
2 to prevent something from succeeding: --
The reduction in funds is throttling the development of new programmes.
3 a device that controls how much fuel goes into an engine --
4 to try to kill someone by pressing the throat so that the person cannot breathe: --
I’m so mad I could throttle him.