constrict

verb

Etymology: 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.

1. To narrow, especially by application of pressure.

   “constrict the airway”

   “constrict blood vessels”

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.