smoth ‧ er /ˈsmʌðə $ -ər/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Origin: smother 'thick smoke' (12-19 centuries) , from Old English smorian 'to suffocate' ]
1 . to completely cover the whole surface of something with something else, often in a way that seems unnecessary or unpleasant
smother something with/in something
noodles smothered in garlic sauce
2 . to kill someone by putting something over their face to stop them breathing ⇨ suffocate :
A teenage mother was accused of smothering her 3-month-old daughter.
3 . to stop yourself from showing your feelings or from doing an action SYN stifle :
The girls tried to smother their giggles.
4 . to give someone so much love and attention that they feel as if they are not free and become unhappy:
I don’t want him to feel smothered.
5 . smother somebody with kisses to kiss someone a lot
6 . to make a fire stop burning by preventing air from reaching it:
We used a wet towel to smother the fire.
7 . to get rid of anyone who opposes you – used to show disapproval:
They ruthlessly smother all opposition.