congest — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A farmer whose lands do not support him adequately.

   Usage

   • Ireland
   • Scotland

   Synonyms

   smallholder

   Examples

   For quotations using this term, see Citations:congest.

Verb

1. To hinder or block the passage of something moving, for example a fluid, mixture, traffic, people, etc. (due to an excess of this or due to a partial or complete obstruction), resulting in overfilling or overcrowding.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   congest traffic

   congest roads

   More examples (2)

   congest lungs

   Pollution can congest the city’s streets with smog.

2. To become blocked or obstructed

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   Nasal passages can congest during a cold.

Verb

1. become or cause to become obstructed

   Synonyms

   clogchoke offclog upback upchokefoulcrap up

   Broader terms

   obstructobturateimpedeoccludejamblockclose up

   Examples

   The leaves clog our drains in the Fall

   The water pipe is backed up