WordGarden.iobottleneck
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈɒtəlnˌɛk/
US
- /ˈbɑtəlˌnɛk/
Meanings
Noun
a point in a process or system where limited capacity slows progress
a narrow or crowded point where traffic or movement slows down
the narrow neck or opening of a bottle or similar container
Verb
to slow or restrict progress by creating a narrow point or capacity limit
Beyond the definition
Imagine a bottle – the narrow neck restricts how quickly liquid can pour out. That's exactly what a "bottleneck" is! It describes any point in a system where things get slowed down or blocked because of limited capacity. This isn't just about roads and traffic; it could be a bottleneck in a factory assembly line, a computer network, or even a hiring process stalled by a lack of qualified applicants. If you're stuck in a bottleneck, prepare to wait!
Think of a busy highway during rush hour – that stretch where everyone merges into fewer lanes is a classic bottleneck. Or picture trying to squeeze too many people through a doorway at once; the doorway becomes the bottleneck. Identifying bottlenecks helps us find ways to improve efficiency and keep things flowing smoothly.
A bottleneck refers to a point of congestion or restriction in a system, process, or location that limits the overall rate of flow. The term originates from the shape of a bottle – its narrow neck creates a choke point where liquid can only pass through at a certain speed.
While often visualized as a physical narrowing (like traffic on a highway), bottlenecks aren't always visible. They can be caused by limited resources, insufficient capacity, or inefficient processes. For example, a software development project might experience a bottleneck if the testing phase takes much longer than coding. Similarly, a hospital emergency room could face a bottleneck at triage if there aren't enough nurses to quickly assess arriving patients.
In business and logistics, identifying bottlenecks is crucial for improving efficiency. By pinpointing exactly where things slow down, companies can invest in targeted solutions like adding resources, streamlining manual steps, or redesigning entire systems.
The term also has metaphorical uses. You might say someone is experiencing an emotional bottleneck when they cannot express what they're feeling. Or a debate may reach a bottleneck when both sides become stuck on a single issue and are unable to move forward.
So, whether it involves traffic, production lines, or personal struggles, a bottleneck represents any point where progress is hindered by limited capacity – a place where things get squeezed and slowed down.
Examples
- 1
Traffic
Traffic always backs up at the bottleneck near the tunnel.
- 2
Deliveries
A shortage of drivers has created a bottleneck in deliveries.
- 3
Hiring process
The approval stage is the main bottleneck in our hiring process.
- 4
Server capacity
We added another server to ease the bottleneck during busy hours.
- Phraseease the bottleneck
make the delay less serious
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Production
Sales are strong, but production is still a bottleneck.
- 6
Planning
Before we expand, we need to identify where the bottleneck is.
See also
Similar
- choke point
- constraint
- logjam
Shades of meaning
- capacity constraint
- pinch point
Contrast
- free flow
- surplus capacity
Used with (collocations)
- create a bottleneck
- remove a bottleneck
- production bottleneck
- traffic bottleneck
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bottlenecknounverbadjective
Forms
- bottleneckspluralnounverbadjective
- bottleneckedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- bottlenecking-ing formverbnounadjective