"act of causing asphyxia," 1849, noun of action from asphyxiate (v.).
Entries linking to asphyxiation
asphyxiate v.
1818, "to suffocate" (someone or something), "produce asphyxia," from asphyxia in its transferred sense + -ate (2). Intransitive sense by 1882. Related: Asphyxiated; asphyxiating.