( BrE ) ( NAmE smol·der ) / ˈsməʊldə(r); NAmE ˈsmoʊ-/ verb [ v ]
1.
to burn slowly without a flame :
The bonfire was still smouldering the next day.
a smouldering cigarette
( figurative )
The feud smouldered on for years.
2.
( formal ) to be filled with a strong emotion that you do not fully express
SYN burn :
His eyes smouldered with anger.
Anger smouldered in his eyes.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : related to Dutch smeulen .