I. adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a smooth curve
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He drew a line on the paper in a smooth curve.
a smooth movement (= graceful )
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Tom leaped over the fence in one smooth movement.
a smooth/comfortable ride
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The new suspension produces a smoother ride.
feel smooth/cold/damp etc
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Her hands felt rough.
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The house felt hot and stuffy.
mellow/smooth (= pleasant and not strong or bitter )
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Add milk to make the flavour more mellow.
smooth operator (= someone who is good at persuading people but who you feel you cannot trust )
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He may not look it, but Newman is a smooth operator .
smooth running
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He praised the smooth running of the election.
smooth talker (= someone who is polite and pleasant but who you do not trust )
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Mom thinks he’s a smooth talker .
smooth (= with no problems or sudden movements )
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The flight had been smooth all the way.
smooth
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Marble provides a cool smooth surface.
smooth (= happening without any problems )
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There were some difficulties in achieving a smooth transition to independence.
smooth
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The dessert had a good all-round flavour and a smooth texture.
smoothed...creases
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She smoothed the creases from her skirt.
smooth/soft
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Her skin was smooth and pale.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
as
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Designs of scars, battle marked patches, as smooth as sea washed pebbles - shocking!
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The final stage of slipping the boltholes over the bolts is not always as smooth as it was with the first column.
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He was black and gleaming, his outline as smooth as a dolphin's even down to the hint of rubber.
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But this doll was as smooth between his legs as a baby girl.
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All a dream and the glass was as smooth and blank as when I first installed it.
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Sure enough, the channel was as smooth as silk.
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An ocean as smooth as glass closing over things vast, alive and hateful.
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It's as smooth as anything.
so
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What he had not anticipated was that the top of the train would be so smooth .
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It was so smooth you hardly knew it-was happening.
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Peach stared at the sea, so blue, so smooth .
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They've gotten so smooth and perfect and it's amazing.
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Even in rehearsal it requires stamina and dedication to make it appear so smooth .
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Clean and new and so smooth .
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Never as long as I live will I marry that sinister shark who pretends to be so smooth and loyal and hard-working.
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The water was so smooth that he swam confidently out to where it was very deep.
very
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Consequently it was important that the bore of the cylinder was very smooth .
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The universe could have started out in a very smooth and ordered state.
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A good Vitesse engine is very smooth and quiet.
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In childhood the arteries have very smooth internal linings.
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Stefan Glowacz looked very smooth as he cruised his way to the only flash of the round.
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Pound or whizz the whole mixture to a very smooth paste.
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But this has an amazingly low action, very smooth and even.
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Both types of cooker top are very smooth in appearance and easy to clean.
■ NOUN
curve
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The yield curve is a smooth curve through those points.
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If the fish is suspended in open water with no obstacles around, the lines are smooth curves .
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The basic idea is that a few parameters are turned into a smooth curve by a standardised computation.
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On a smooth curve , both the values and the slopes at neighbouring time points are close together.
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This is rather like being able to draw a straight line tangent at any point on a smooth curve .
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Where the septum meets the body wall it does so in a smooth curve .
finish
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Wallshield gives a smooth finish , and Sandshield a fine sand-textured finish.
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These caulks are paintable, clean up with soap and water and also require some proficiency for a smooth finish .
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These raised the nap on the cloth, which could then be cropped with shears to give it a smoother finish .
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Endless Kiss gives a smooth finish and it contains a protective sunscreen.
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Twin wire paper which has an identical smooth finish on both sides.
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Blending is useful when trying to obtain a smooth finish .
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You can ring the changes by exposing the aggregate and creating a rough surface texture if you find a smooth finish uninspiring.
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The smooth finish means clothes are less likely to snag than on ordinary basketwork.
muscle
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It has been repeatedly reported that smooth muscle antibodies of autoimmune chronic hepatitis are directed to cell actin.
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The muscles involved in such tremors and twitches are skeletal, as opposed to cardiac or smooth muscle.
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In addition to its potent vasoconstrictive actions, ET-1 is also a mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells.
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Chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction is usually caused by disease of the enteric nerves or smooth muscle .
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The production of a visceral-specific anti-peptide antibody should permit a further investigation of its expression in smooth muscle cells.
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This pattern was limited to the distal, smooth muscle portion of the oesophagus.
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This would facilitate the calculation of peristaltic velocity and the speed of contractility of gut smooth muscle with high temporal resolution.
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Several theories of the factors causing smooth muscle cell proliferation have been made.
operation
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The control exercised from this remote box, therefore, was vital to the smooth operation of this busy line.
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Somewhere along the line its deals undermined its smooth operation .
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Gulping such a prey animal down head-first is a smooth operation .
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Reengineering offered a technical fix for what were seen as lapses in the smooth operation of ongoing business processes.
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In the silence he feels the smooth operations of the mind's incomparable picture show.
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The Huey had snapped into smooth operation after more than a month of storage.
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What specific tasks do you believe need to be tackled to create a smoother operation ?
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The intensive service with large locos and the smooth operation were certainly appreciated.
operator
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Behind the scenes ... chaos ... smooth operators ... and hairdressers everywhere.
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He was then a smooth operator .
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Here are the big time smooth operators .
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He may not look it, but he is a smooth operator .
ride
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By later standards they were rather slow cars, but the trucks gave a smooth ride on straight track.
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Please give my compliments to Captain Tynes, and thank him for the smooth ride .
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All the rail joints would be welded by the Thermit process, to give a smooth ride throughout.
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As far as home openers go, there have been smoother rides .
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It is expected to be a smooth ride for the bill from here.
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In particular, it boasts a longer wheelbase and new twist-beam suspension which produces a smoother ride and better handling.
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The result is a smooth ride and relaxed, easy handling that makes it a great long-distance cruiser.
running
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This is essential to facilitate the smooth running of a sale and to provide the client with regular written status reports.
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An angry mob creates confusion and prevents the smooth running of its hunting sequence.
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The lights flickered and dimmed as the blast from a nearby explosion momentarily disturbed the smooth running of the generator.
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But its smooth running depended very much upon their personal skill and devotion.
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But only on account of the smooth running of the business, she realised.
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In fairness to the smooth running of the place, shouldn't Silas be warned of Ling's prediction of trouble?
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They shared their responsibilities for the smooth running of Zone I with the enthusiasm of those bound by a loveless marriage.
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He's a sort of diocesan works manager responsible to the bishop for the smooth running of the parish priests.
skin
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Sugar paste, the smooth skin of young girls.
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He had a quick smile, smooth skin and a booming fascination with his own anatomy.
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She glimpsed smooth skin , but the blood and dirt flooded back in.
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They even have the same smooth skin .
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They were a generation of large, well-nourished, beautiful children with silken hair, smooth skin and clear eyes.
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A smooth skin also tans more evenly because you have removed dead skin cells.
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He rested his eyes on her, very conscious of the smooth skin and her flowery perfume.
surface
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The soft broom is used for light sweeping on smooth surfaces and the hard type for rough or wet work.
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The smooth surface makes it easier for agents to detect footprints in the road.
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A laser is used to etch a pattern of tiny flaws in the otherwise glassy smooth surface of the disc.
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Harding gathers the dice up with his long fingers, feeling the smooth surfaces with his thumb as if he was blind.
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However, if a hard smooth surface is required royal icing is very effective.
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Benches with reversible tops give the option of either a smooth surface or recessed gravel trays for summer and are particularly useful.
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She sighed and let her fingers move slowly down the dark, smooth surface of the glass.
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The hard, smooth surface pressed to his face was covered in water.
texture
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Safeway Organic Bananas, £1.59 for six A sweet banana with good all-round flavour and a smooth texture .
transition
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Labour's complex leadership rules, first used to elect Mr Kinnock in 1983, make a smooth transition impossible.
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The broadcasters say they need both analog and digital channels for 15 years to ensure a smooth transition to the digital age.
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Johnson's first task was to ensure a smooth transition of power, and for the time being he kept together the Kennedy team.
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Of this sector, electronic parts and components manufacturers made the smoothest transition to commercial markets.
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Ensure that children and young people with learning disabilities have a smoother transition into adulthood and adult service networks.
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Even so, Swilling expects his student to make a smooth transition to defensive end.
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Again we're using repetition in different octaves and lots of slides and pull-offs to make a smooth transition between each position.
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Chan cited signs that point to a smooth transition in 1997.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
take the rough with the smooth
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I needed them as much as they needed me and I happily took the rough with the smooth.
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You have to take the rough with the smooth.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Smooth and charming, Francis was the kind of man your mother would love you to marry.
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a smooth flight
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a smooth lawyer
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a smooth , freshly-paved driveway
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a board with smooth edges
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a series of smooth , graceful ripples on the lake
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Add the remaining ingredients and beat until smooth .
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Blend the strawberries with a little icing sugar in a food processor until it forms a smooth purée.
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Don't let his smooth manner fool you - he's just after your money.
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FrontPage is a software program that helps to organize the entire web site so that it works in a smooth fashion.
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It was one of the smoothest flights I've ever had.
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Moisturizers promise to leave your skin softer and smoother.
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She has lovely smooth skin.
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The car has excellent suspension and the journey was really smooth .
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The main responsibility of the Project Co-ordinator is to ensure the smooth running of the department.
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The marble table felt smooth and cold against her arm.
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To ensure a smooth change-over, we'd like you to start work one week before your predecessor leaves.
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We hope that most students will make a smooth transition into high school.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Behind the scenes ... chaos ... smooth operators ... and hairdressers everywhere.
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It is a smooth spreading sausage, similar in texture to a fine liver sausage, with a bright pink colour.
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She felt too, as she mopped the trickling water from it, the smooth bronzed skin of the leg.
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Stir in currants and mixed peel. 3 Add enough milk to make a soft, smooth dough.
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The control exercised from this remote box, therefore, was vital to the smooth operation of this busy line.
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The eyebrows and eyelashes were drawn in an then very pale washes were put on, the paint smooth and even.
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The water around the fire was smooth as glass, black, like a standing pool of oil.
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Whisk cup water with lemon juice, flour and salt to taste until smooth .
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
away
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It works immediately to alleviate cracking and smooth away dryness and scaling.
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He managed to smooth away his rougher edges.
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His face was flushed, all the petulance and disappointment smoothed away .
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She is certain that this interest in their marathon game helped to smooth away many problems which could have arisen.
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But the sea rushed in, smoothing away the names, filling her shoes with frothy, sandy water.
back
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Mrs Frizzell gazed into space and Mrs Murphy smoothed back errant curls from her damp forehead.
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Springing up, she smoothed back her tousled hair and hurriedly unbolted the door to Bethany smiling at her.
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Then, with a single gesture, the three waiting figures smoothed back their hair and advanced warily to meet him.
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He would remember smoothing back her hair.
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He held her close, smoothing back her hair, his big hands so gentle.
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So, rising, Sammler smoothed back the bedding, the coverlet.
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He folded it and smoothed back the sheet.
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She has a clean apron round her neat waist and her hair smoothed back .
down
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I watched the last one turn, slowly, halting before it was smoothed down .
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She smooths down her hair, tipping the beret back to its original angle.
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Then she jumped to her feet and smoothed down the quilt.
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Lift marzipan over cake and smooth down , easing out folds.
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When hardened, smooth down with abrasive paper, then seal with plaster primer.
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Dry-mouthed, she smoothed down the shimmering folds of her robe with fingers that shook slightly.
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Press into a little china, glass or glazed earthenware pot or terrine and smooth down the top.
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Nervously she smoothed down her hair.
out
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Most biological systems have feedback mechanisms that help smooth out the little fluctuations that life throws at them.
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She tries to recall the good memories to help smooth out the rough times.
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Sixty-Four Donna put down the note and ran her hands over the paper, as if trying to smooth out the creases.
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But Internet sales are being delayed until kinks can be smoothed out , as well as security issues.
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In most instances, a kink will produce a slight burr on the surface which can be smoothed out .
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The curiously but hopefully not phonetically named Botox is injected into the forehead to smooth out the skin.
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Simply isolate the culprit, cut, and smooth out the surrounding transitions.
over
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She made the pain go away and thought the grit out of her hand, smoothing over the abrasions.
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The convention was effectively run, with platform differences on abortion, immigration and other matters smoothed over .
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This should be rubbed between the hands and smoothed over your hair for great shine.
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But each fight was smoothed over when Russell gave roses to his wife, one neighbor said.
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People said it was smoothed over , and that there had been adjustments of personnel in the agriculture department.
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In this way, psychological writing manages to smooth over the difficulties in its discourses of gender.
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Usually floodplains are not veneers of alluvium explicable by lateral channel movements, but considerable thicknesses smoothing over more complex relief.
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This smoothing over of social and historical differences can turn discourse analyses' political implications from productive ambiguity, to complete opacity.
■ NOUN
crease
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Sixty-Four Donna put down the note and ran her hands over the paper, as if trying to smooth out the creases .
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Fernando drew away from her and Ruth scrambled to her feet, smoothing the creases from her dress.
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She paused briefly to tidy her hair and smooth the creases from her skirt, then led the way into the house.
edge
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But by the next morning sleep had smoothed over the ragged edges of Folly's doubt.
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Use an emery board to smooth sharp edges that could cut an adjacent toe.
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He managed to smooth away his rougher edges .
hair
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Her fingers touched his hair , smoothing its fine silkiness, running against his scalp, the back of his neck.
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She paused briefly to tidy her hair and smooth the creases from her skirt, then led the way into the house.
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She has a clean apron round her neat waist and her hair smoothed back.
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She dabbed at her hair , smoothing it.
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Instinctively she ran a hand through her dishevelled hair , smoothing it into some kind of order.
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Pomade - a perfumed oil or ointment put on hair to make it smooth and shiny.
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Scott ran both hands through his hair , smoothing it back tight against his scalp.
skin
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The curiously but hopefully not phonetically named Botox is injected into the forehead to smooth out the skin .
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She smoothed her skin with oil and chose a short, ice-green robe in which to welcome him.
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Lotions or creams smoothed on while the skin is still damp will seal in extra moisture.
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Katherine took her son's hand and smoothed the plump skin , her pale eyes alight with love.
skirt
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And then she moved and with trembling hands smoothed down her skirt .
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Astrid smoothed her skirt over her hips and sat down.
transition
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Simply isolate the culprit, cut, and smooth out the surrounding transitions .
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And it would smooth the transition between the various sectors.
way
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Well, you could break all the moulds by smoothing the way for Mary O'Rourke to come through as your successor.
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The company said it has assigned more than 2, 000 employees to help smooth the way for competition.
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I am not one who believes that extra resources necessarily solve problems or necessarily smooth the way to their solution.
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Informal entertaining Though entertaining is not an essential part of the media relations programme it can often help to smooth the way .
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The fact that bumiputra ownership had increased dramatically, no doubt helped smooth the way .
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There were no words to explain how she felt but her body would smooth a way .
■ VERB
try
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Sixty-Four Donna put down the note and ran her hands over the paper, as if trying to smooth out the creases.
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The panel will try to smooth out differences between the measures, then send a final bill to both chambers for approval.
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Later, I tried to smooth things over, but he wasn't interested.
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I tried smoothing and adjusting my clothes.
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Luke arrived, not too pleased about the party, and I tried to smooth him down.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
smooth-textured/coarse-textured/fine-textured etc
take the rough with the smooth
▪
I needed them as much as they needed me and I happily took the rough with the smooth.
▪
You have to take the rough with the smooth.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Across the table, Tanya smoothed down her skirt and looked at her watch.
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Every morning she smoothes the bedclothes out and dusts the room.
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She removed her cap and smoothed her lush black hair.
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The logs were smoothed and trimmed to size with axes.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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But Internet sales are being delayed until kinks can be smoothed out, as well as security issues.
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He smooths the circle to the exact depth required and marks it with a big cross.
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He wanted to smooth the web of hair that spilled down her back springing alive from the bones of her head.
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He would sit, smoothing his pants, and wait.
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Luce washed herself and smoothed her fringe as best she could, scowling at her reflection in the mirror.
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She stood up, a little unsteadily, and smoothed her frock.
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The curiously but hopefully not phonetically named Botox is injected into the forehead to smooth out the skin.