bottleneck
UK: ˈbɒt(ə)lnɛk | US: ˈbɑːtl̩nɛk
n. 1. A narrow section of a road, passage, or process that causes congestion or delay.
n. 2. A limiting factor in a system that restricts efficiency or output.
vt. To slow down or restrict progress due to a bottleneck.
The word "bottleneck" originated in the early 19th century, combining "bottle" (from Old French boteille, meaning a container) and "neck" (from Old English hnecca, referring to the narrow part of the body or an object). The term originally described the narrow neck of a bottle, which restricts the flow of liquid. By the mid-20th century, it metaphorically expanded to describe any point of congestion in systems like traffic, production, or data flow. The logic is vivid: just as a bottle's neck slows pouring, a bottleneck in a process slows progress.
The construction site created a bottleneck on the highway during rush hour.
Poor internet bandwidth is the bottleneck in our video streaming service.
The factory’s outdated machinery bottlenecks production efficiency.
To optimize workflow, identify and eliminate bottlenecks in your process.
The narrow staircase became a bottleneck during the emergency evacuation.