bottleneck

[ bot-l-nek ]
/ ˈbɒt lˌnɛk /

noun

a narrow entrance or passageway.
a place or stage in a process at which progress is impeded.
Also called slide guitar. a method of guitar playing that produces a gliding sound by pressing a metal bar or glass tube against the strings.

verb (used with object)

to hamper or confine by or as if by a bottleneck.

verb (used without object)

to become hindered by or as if by a bottleneck.

Origin of bottleneck

First recorded in 1895–1900; bottle1 + neck

Example sentences from the Web for bottleneck

British Dictionary definitions for bottleneck

bottleneck
/ (ˈbɒtəlˌnɛk) /

noun

  1. a narrow stretch of road or a junction at which traffic is or may be held up
  2. the hold up
something that holds up progress, esp of a manufacturing process
music
  1. the broken-off neck of a bottle placed over a finger and used to produce a buzzing effect in a style of guitar-playing originally part of the American blues tradition
  2. the style of guitar playing using a bottleneck

verb

(tr) US to be or cause an obstruction in

Scientific definitions for bottleneck

bottleneck
[ bŏtl-nĕk′ ]

An abrupt and severe reduction in the number of individuals during the history of a species, resulting in the loss of diversity from the gene pool. The generations following the bottleneck are more genetically homogenous than would otherwise be expected. Bottlenecks often occur in consequence of a catastrophic event.

Cultural definitions for bottleneck

bottleneck

The point at which an industry or economic system has to slow its growth because one or more of its components cannot keep up with demand.