CONSTIPATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does constipate mean? 

• CONSTIPATE (verb)
  The verb CONSTIPATE has 2 senses:

1. impede with a clog or as if with a clog

2. cause to be constipated

  Familiarity information: CONSTIPATE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONSTIPATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they constipate    ... he / she / it constipates   
Past simple: constipated   
Past participle: constipated   
-ing form: constipating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Impede with a clog or as if with a clog

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

clog; constipate

Context example:

My mind is constipated today

Hypernyms (to "constipate" is one way to...):

slow; slow down; slow up (cause to proceed more slowly)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to be constipated

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

bind; constipate

Context example:

These foods tend to constipate you

Hypernyms (to "constipate" is one way to...):

indispose (cause to feel unwell)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "constipate"):

obstipate (constipate severely)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

constipation (irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels; can be a symptom of intestinal obstruction or diverticulitis)

 Context examples 

A question about whether an individual is or has been constipated.

(Have Constipation, NCI Thesaurus)

Sometimes it is painful to pass. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated.

(Constipation, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)