strangler

/ˈstræŋɡlər/
noun
  1. A person who kills someone by squeezing their throat.
    • In the movie, the strangler targeted victims in dark alleyways.
    • The detective studied the pattern of the serial strangler.
    • The police arrested the strangler after a long investigation.
  2. A plant or tree that grows around another tree and eventually kills it by blocking its growth.
    • In the jungle, a strangler vine can slowly kill a large palm.
    • The strangler fig wrapped tightly around the host tree.
    • The gardener removed the strangler plant before it damaged the oak.
What does "strangler" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean