v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. suffocate; stifle; kill by stopping the breath of or excluding air from.
2 tr. (foll. by with) overwhelm with (kisses, gifts, kindness, etc.) (smothered with affection).
3 tr. (foll. by in, with) cover entirely in or with (chicken smothered in mayonnaise).
4 tr. extinguish or deaden (a fire or flame) by covering it or heaping it with ashes etc.
5 intr. a die of suffocation. b have difficulty breathing.
6 tr. (often foll. by up) suppress or conceal; keep from notice or publicity.
7 tr. US defeat rapidly or utterly.
--n.
1. a cloud of dust or smoke.
2 obscurity caused by this.
Phrases and idioms:
smothered mate Chess checkmate in which the king, having no vacant square to move to, is checkmated by a knight.
Etymology: ME smorther f. the stem of OE smorian suffocate