smother

[ smuhth -er ]

/ ˈsmʌð ər /

verb (used with object)

to stifle or suffocate, as by smoke or other means of preventing free breathing.

to extinguish or deaden (fire, coals, etc.) by covering so as to exclude air.

to cover closely or thickly; envelop: to smother a steak with mushrooms.

to suppress or repress: to smother feelings.

Cookery. to steam (food) slowly in a heavy, tightly closed vessel with a minimum of liquid: smothered chicken and onions.

verb (used without object)

to become stifled or suffocated; be prevented from breathing.

to be stifled; be suppressed or concealed.

noun

dense, stifling smoke.

a smoking or smoldering state, as of burning matter.

dust, fog, spray, etc., in a dense or enveloping cloud.

an overspreading profusion of anything: a smother of papers.

Origin of smother

1125–75; (noun) Middle English smorther dense smoke; akin to Old English smorian to suffocate; (v.) Middle English smo(r)theren, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM smother

smoth·er·a·ble, adjective half-smoth·ered, adjective un·smoth·er·a·ble, adjective un·smoth·ered, adjective

un·smoth·er·ing, adjective

Words nearby smother

smoothing iron, smoothy, smorgasbord, smorzando, smote, smother, smothered mate, smothery, smoulder, smout, smp

Example sentences from the Web for half-smothered

Presently came the half-smothered sound of a shot and a half-stifled cry from the rearmost litter.

An Apache Princess |Charles King
The long, half-smothered, piteous cry that followed, was almost unheard in the roaring of the storm that now was at its height.

Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. VI, November 1850, Vol. I |Various
There was a half-smothered cry, a sharp thud, like a body striking the pavement, and then came silence.

The Apartment Next Door |William Andrew Johnston
"But—but—" spluttered Billiard, still hugging his half-smothered treasure to his bosom.

Tabitha's Vacation |Ruth Alberta Brown

There was a half-smothered exclamation of dismay from Marjorie.

Marjorie Dean High School Freshman |Pauline Lester

British Dictionary definitions for half-smothered

smother

/ (ˈsmʌðə) /

verb

to suffocate or stifle by cutting off or being cut off from the air

(tr) to surround (with) or envelop (in) he smothered her with love

(tr) to extinguish (a fire) by covering so as to cut it off from the air

to be or cause to be suppressed or stifled smother a giggle

(tr) to cook or serve (food) thickly covered with sauce, etc

noun

anything, such as a cloud of smoke, that stifles

a profusion or turmoil

archaic a state of smouldering or a smouldering fire

Derived forms of smother

smothery, adjective

Word Origin for smother

Old English smorian to suffocate; related to Middle Low German smōren

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

smother

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of smother

OTHER WORDS FROM smother

Words nearby smother

Example sentences from the Web for half-smothered

British Dictionary definitions for half-smothered

verb

noun

Derived forms of smother

Word Origin for smother

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

smother

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of smother

OTHER WORDS FROM smother

Words nearby smother

Example sentences from the Web for half-smothered

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for half-smothered

verb

noun

Derived forms of smother

Word Origin for smother

British Dictionary definitions for half-smothered