I. ˈsmə-thər noun
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : thick stifling smoke or smudge
b. : a state of being stifled or suppressed
2. : a dense cloud (as of fog or dust)
3. : a confused multitude of things : welter
• smoth·ery ˈsmə-thə-rē, ˈsməth-rē adjective
II. verb
( smoth·ered ; smoth·er·ing ˈsmə-thə-riŋ, ˈsməth-riŋ)
Date: circa 1520
intransitive verb
: to be overcome or killed through or as if through lack of air
transitive verb
1. : to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes
2.
a. : to kill by depriving of air
b. : to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of air
c. : to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen
3.
a. : to cause to smolder
b. : to suppress expression or knowledge of
smother ed his rage
c. : to stop or prevent the growth or activity of
smother a child with too much care
also : overwhelm
d. : to cover thickly : blanket
snow smother ed the trails
e. : to overcome or vanquish quickly or decisively
4. : to cook in a covered pan or pot with little liquid over low heat