smother

¹smoth·er

noun \ˈsmə-thər\

Definition of SMOTHER

1

a : thick stifling smoke or smudge

b : a state of being stifled or suppressed

2

: a dense cloud (as of fog or dust)

3

: a confused multitude of things : welter

— smoth·ery \ˈsmə-thə-rē, ˈsməth-rē\ adjective

Origin of SMOTHER

Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with SMOTHER

brother, mother, nother, other, tother

²smother

verb

smoth·eredsmoth·er·ing \ˈsmə-thə-riŋ, ˈsməth-riŋ\

Definition of SMOTHER

intransitive verb

: to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air

transitive verb

1

: to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes

2

a : to kill by depriving of air

b : to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air

c : to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen

3

a : to cause to smolder

b : to suppress expression or knowledge of <smothered his rage>

c : to stop or prevent the growth or activity of <smother a child with too much care>; also : overwhelm

d : to cover thickly : blanket <snow smothered the trails>

e : to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively

4

: to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat

Examples of SMOTHER

1. He tried to smother her with a pillow.
2. She smothered the fire with a blanket.

First Known Use of SMOTHER

circa 1520

Related to SMOTHER

Synonyms

choke, stifle, strangle, suffocate

Related Words

garrote (or garotte), throttle; asphyxiate; drown; croak [slang], destroy, dispatch, do in, fell, slay

Near Antonyms

breathe, exhale, expire, inhale, inspire; resuscitate, revive

Rhymes with SMOTHER

mother, other