clog

/klɑg/

/klɒg/

Other forms: clogged; clogs; clogging

A clog is a blockage, or something that gets in the way. A clog in your kitchen sink might mean you have to call a plumber before you can wash your dishes.

A clog obstructs water from flowing through pipes, and it can also be figurative, like a clog in your city's restaurant inspection system that makes it impossible for people to open new cafes. When clog is a verb, it means to cause such a hindrance. A completely different kind of clog is a heavy, wooden-soled shoe. In the 14th century, a clogge was a "lump of wood," and the verb first meant, "hinder with a block of wood."

Definitions of clog

1. noun

   any object that acts as a hindrance or obstruction
   type of:

   encumbrance, hinderance, hindrance, hitch, incumbrance, interference, preventative, preventive

   any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome
2. verb

   become or cause to become obstructed
   “The leaves clog our drains in the Fall”

   synonyms: back up, choke, choke off, clog up, congest, foul

   antonyms:

   unclog

   become or cause to become unobstructed

   types:

   gum up

   stick together as if with gum

   crap up

   become obstructed or chocked up

   block, choke up, lug, stuff

   obstruct

   silt, silt up

   become chocked with silt

   type of:

   block, close up, impede, jam, obstruct, obturate, occlude

   block passage through
3. verb

   impede with a clog or as if with a clog
   “The market is being clogged by these operations”

   synonyms: constipate

   type of:

   slow, slow down, slow up

   cause to proceed more slowly
4. verb

   impede the motion of, as with a chain or a burden
   “horses were clogged until they were tamed”

   type of:

   constrain, cumber, encumber, restrain

   hold back
5. verb

   coalesce or unite in a mass
   synonyms: clot

   type of:

   coalesce

   fuse or cause to grow together
6. verb

   fill to excess so that function is impaired
   “Fear clogged her mind”

   “The story was clogged with too many details”

   synonyms: overload

   type of:

   fill, fill up, make full

   make full, also in a metaphorical sense
7. noun

   footwear usually with wooden soles
   synonyms: geta, patten, sabot

   type of:

   footgear, footwear

   covering for a person's feet
8. noun

   a dance performed while wearing shoes with wooden soles; has heavy stamping steps
   synonyms: clog dance, clog dancing

   type of:

   tap dance, tap dancing

   a dance step tapped out audibly with the feet
9. verb

   dance a clog dance
   type of:

   dance, trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe

   move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance