noun / verb
clog
KLAWG/klɔːɡ/
An obstruction that prevents free passage.
A clog in the kitchen drain keeps water from flowing.
Etymology
Middle English clogge meant “lump of wood,” with earlier origin unknown. The verb first described hindering movement by attaching a wooden block, then broadened to choking a passage with obstructing matter.
In context
sediment buildup from heated metal and evaporating water can clog the radiator over time which can cause your car to overheat
More examples
- Wet leaves clog the gutters every fall.
- This filter clogs quickly in dusty conditions.
- The plumber removes a stubborn clog from the pipe.
Forms
clog · clogs · clogged · clogging
Similar words
- blockage
- Blockage names the blocked condition as well as the obstruction.
- obstruction
- Obstruction also covers barriers that hinder movement without fully blocking it.