bottleneck

/ˌbɑdlˈnɛk/

/ˈbɒtəlnɛk/

Other forms: bottlenecks; bottlenecked; bottlenecking

A bottleneck is a type of traffic jam, when cars get stuck or slowed down in a narrow part of the roadway. You might leave work two hours later than usual to avoid a bottleneck.

Anything that gets stalled in a narrow area, whether it's auto traffic or pedestrians, can be called a bottleneck. Information can also get stuck in a kind of bottleneck, if the system itself creates a delay. The term comes from the shape of an actual bottleneck, or the narrow neck or mouth of a bottle.

Definitions of bottleneck

1. noun

   the narrow part of a bottle near the top
   type of:

   part, portion

   something less than the whole of a human artifact
2. noun

   a narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel
   synonyms: chokepoint, constriction

   type of:

   narrowing

   an instance of becoming narrow
3. verb

   slow down or impede by creating an obstruction
   “His laziness has bottlenecked our efforts to reform the system”

   type of:

   block, blockade, embarrass, hinder, obstruct, stymie, stymy

   hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
4. verb

   become narrow, like a bottleneck
   “Right by the bridge, the road bottlenecks”

   type of:

   contract, narrow

   make or become more narrow or restricted