I. ˈsməthə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate, strangle; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate, stew, Middle Low German smōren, and perhaps to Middle Dutch smölen to smolder, scorch — more at smell
1.
a. : thick stifling smoke : a suffocating smudge or smoky condition
b. : a state of being stifled or suppressed : a smoldering or dampened fire
2. : a dense cloud of fog, foam, spray, snow, or dust
logs … rolled and tossed in a creamy smother — Kenneth Roberts
come with her tail up in a smother of flying sand — Mary H. Vorse
3. : a confused multitude or rush of things : welter
smother of flowering creepers and climbers — Jean Devanny
in a smother of shoal-water waves that roll you down to leeward — S.E.Morison
II. verb
( smothered ; smothered ; smothering -th(ə)riŋ ; smothers )
Etymology: Middle English smotheren, alteration of smortheren, from smorther, n.
transitive verb
1. : to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes
2.
a. : to destroy the life of by depriving of air
smother a child with a pillow
smother seedlings in a tight cold frame
b. : to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of adequate air
such close quarters tend to smother one
c. : to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen
3. : to cover or overlay oppressively: as
a. : to cause to smolder rather than blaze by or as if by covering
smother a fire with too much coal
b. : to suppress or prevent expression, utterance, notice, or knowledge of as though by thick covering
smother a secret
he smothered his rage
the bill was smothered in committee
— often used with up
c. : to stop or prevent the growth, development, activity, or vitality of by or as if by thick cover or dense concentration around
moralized, intellectualized, and nearly smothered by Harvard — H.S.Canby
little flowers smothered by the weeds
smother weeds in a field by planting sorghum
d. : to cover thickly, settle over, or blanket completely or restrictingly
a record snow smothering the valley
e. : to overcome quickly and completely : vanquish at once and render utterly helpless
Belgian units smothered by the invading Germans
state smothered Tech by a score of 52-0
f. : to hit (a golf ball) low along the ground through faulty execution of a lofting stroke
g. : to play (a bowled cricket ball) from above with a sharp downward defensive stroke
4.
a. : to cook (meat, vegetables) in a covered pan or pot with very little liquid over low heat
smothered round steak and onions
smothered cabbage
b. : to serve (food) covered with other food cooked or uncooked
gingerbread smothered with whipped cream
broiled steak smothered with mushrooms
intransitive verb
1. : to suffer or die from lack of air
were smothering in the sultry heat
the child smothered in the locked chest
2. dialect Britain : smolder
3. : to undergo suppression, repression, extreme restraint, or concealment
his anger smothered and died
Synonyms: see suffocate
III. noun
( -s )
: smothering