gridlock
UK /ˈɡɹɪdˌlɒk/US /ˈɡɹɪdˌlɑk/
noun4
- On a smaller scale, the situation in which cars enter a signal-controlled intersection too late during the green light cycle, and are unable to clear the intersection (due to congestion in the next block) when the light turns red, thus blocking the cross traffic when it's their turn to go. Repeated at enough intersections, this phenomenon can lead to citywide gridlock.
verb1
forms
gridlocked · gridlocking · gridlocks