Entry Word: smother

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to be or cause to be killed by lack of breathable air <you should never play inside discarded appliances because you could become trapped and smother>

Synonyms choke, stifle, strangle, suffocate

Related Words garrote (or garotte), throttle; asphyxiate; drown

Near Antonyms breathe, exhale, expire, inhale, inspire

2 to refrain from openly showing or uttering <he quickly smothered his inappropriate laughter at the ceremony> — see suppress 2