Meaning & Definition of word "Bottleneck"

Bottleneck

/ˈbɒt(ə)lˌnɛk/

1. A point of congestion or blockage that reduces the efficiency or speed of a process.
- Example: The shipment delays were caused by a bottleneck at the customs office.
2. A stage in a process at which progress is slowed or halted due to limited capacity.
- Example: The factory's production line experienced a bottleneck due to a malfunctioning machine.
3. In computing, a component or process that limits the speed or efficiency of the entire system.
- Example: Upgrading the server eliminated the bottleneck that had been slowing down our website.

1. To obstruct or reduce the efficiency of a process.
- Example: Excessive paperwork can bottleneck the approval process.

The term comes from the shape of a bottle, where a narrow neck slows down the flow of liquid.

bottleneck effect:

A situation in which a reduction in population size leads to a loss of genetic diversity.

traffic bottleneck:

A point in a road where the flow of traffic slows down.

bottlenecking:

The process of obstructing or slowing down a system.

congestion:

An excessive accumulation of traffic or people, leading to obstruction.

obstruction:

The act of blocking or hindering progress.

restriction:

A limitation placed on something, often resulting in reduced efficiency.

Meaning: Getting stuck in a situation where progress is impeded.

Example Sentence: We hit a serious bottleneck on that project after the last meeting.

Meaning: A frustrating delay that prevents moving forward.

Example Sentence: The server being down was a real bottleneck for our work.