chokepoint

Thân thiện

The bridge becomes a major chokepoint during the evening commute.

Definition

Noun: 1. A point of congestion or blockage: A specific location where movement or flow is severely restricted or slowed down, often causing a bottleneck. 2. A narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel: A physical constriction in a passage, route, or conduit that limits the volume or speed of what can pass through.

Usage and Examples

• Describing Traffic Congestion:
  • The city's old bridge is a notorious chokepoint for commuters every morning.
  • The accident created a chokepoint on the highway, backing up traffic for miles.
• Describing Military or Strategic Locations:
  • The strait is a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments.
  • Securing the mountain pass, a natural chokepoint, was essential for the army's defense.
• Describing Physical Constrictions:
  • Sediment buildup in the pipe created a chokepoint that reduced water pressure.
  • The narrow canyon acted as a chokepoint for the river, increasing its speed.

Advanced Usage

• Economic/Logistical Chokepoint: Used metaphorically to describe a single point of failure or constraint in a supply chain or process.
  • The single supplier for this component is a major chokepoint in our production line.
• Bottleneck vs. Chokepoint: While often used interchangeably, a "bottleneck" more broadly describes any stage that limits capacity in a system, whereas a "chokepoint" often implies a specific, narrow, and critical geographic or physical point of constriction.

Variants and Related Words

• Choke (verb): To restrict or block a passage; to have difficulty breathing.
  • Dust choked the air filter.
• Bottleneck (noun): A point of congestion or a stage in a process that causes delay.
  • The approval stage is the main bottleneck in the application process.

Synonyms

• Bottleneck
• Constriction
• Blockage
• Congestion point
• Narrowing

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To create/form a chokepoint: The act of causing or establishing a point of congestion.
  • The protesters aimed to create a chokepoint at the city's main intersection.
• Strategic chokepoint: A location whose control is vital for military or economic reasons.
  • The canal is a strategic chokepoint for international trade.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a point of congestion or blockage
   • the bridge is always a chokepoint at rush hour
2. a narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel

Từ đồng nghĩa

• constriction
• bottleneck