smother

smother
[[t]smʌ̱ðə(r)[/t]]
smothers, smothering, smothered
1) VERB If you smother a fire, you cover it with something in order to put it out.

[V n] The girl's parents were also burned as they tried to smother the flames.

2) VERB To smother someone means to kill them by covering their face with something so that they cannot breathe.

[V n] A father was secretly filmed as he tried to smother his six-week-old son in hospital.

Syn:
3) VERB Things that smother something cover it completely.

[V n] Once the shrubs begin to smother the little plants, we have to move them.

Derived words:
smothered ADJ v-link ADJ, usu ADJ in/with n

...a hundred-year-old red-bricked house almost smothered in ivy...

Make sure that your meal won't be smothered with white sauce.

4) VERB If you smother someone, you show your love for them too much and protect them too much.

[V n] She loved her own children, almost smothering them with love.

[V-ing] ...a smothering, overprotective mother.

5) VERB If you smother an emotion or a reaction, you control it so that people do not notice it.

[V n] She summoned up all her pity for him, to smother her self-pity.

[V-ed] ...smothered giggles.

Syn:
6) VERB If an activity or process is smothered, it is prevented from continuing or developing.

[be V-ed] Intellectual life in France was smothered by the occupation...

[V n] The debts of both Poland and Hungary are beginning to smother the reform process.

Syn:

English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Smother — Smoth er, n. [OE. smorther. See {Smother}, v. t.] 1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A state of suppression. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Not to keep their suspicions in smother. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 3. That which smothers or causes …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smother — Студийный альбом …   Википедия

  • Smother — Smoth er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smothered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Smothering}.] [OE. smotheren; akin to E. smoor. See {Smoor}.] 1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • smother — ► VERB 1) suffocate by covering the nose and mouth. 2) extinguish (a fire) by covering it. 3) (smother in/with) cover entirely with. 4) cause to feel trapped and oppressed. 5) suppress (a feeling or action). ► NOUN …   English terms dictionary

  • smother — [smuth′ər] vt. [ME smorthren < smorther, dense smoke < base of OE smorian, to suffocate, akin to MLowG smoren, to smoke < var. of IE base * smel > SMELL] 1. a) to keep from getting enough air to breathe; stifle b) to kill in this way; …   English World dictionary

  • Smother — Smoth er, v. i. 1. To be suffocated or stifled. [1913 Webster] 2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smother — est un film américain de Vince DiMeglio sorti en 2007. Sommaire 1 Synopsis 2 Fiche technique 3 Distribution 4 Lien externe …   Wikipédia en Français

  • smother — index assuage, extinguish, hamper, inhibit, prohibit, repress, stifle, strangle, subdue …   Law dictionary

  • smother — (v.) c.1200, to suffocate with smoke, from smorthre (n.) dense, suffocating smoke (late 12c.), from stem of O.E. smorian to suffocate, choke, possibly connected to SMOLDER (Cf. smolder). Meaning to kill by suffocation is from 1540s; sense of to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • smother — vb *suffocate, asphyxiate, stifle, choke, strangle, throttle …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • smother — [v] extinguish; cover, hide asphyxiate, choke, collect, compose, conceal, control, cool, cork, douse, envelop, heap, hush up*, inundate, keep back, kill, muffle, overwhelm, quash, quell, quench, rein, repress, restrain, shower, shroud, simmer… …   New thesaurus

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