English · Science & Technology
bottleneck
/ˈbɒt.əlˌnɛk/
[/ˈbɒt.əlˌnɛk/]
limiting constraint
Advancednoun
Definition
A point of congestion or a stage in a process that limits overall capacity or speed.
Example
The slow database query turned out to be the main bottleneck in the system.
The slow database query turned out to be the main bottleneck in the system.
Etymology
From the narrow neck of a bottle restricting flow; the figurative sense is modern.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in engineering, operations, and performance tuning.