smother Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a confused multitude of things
    welter; muddle; clutter; mare's nest; fuddle; jumble.
  2. noun a stifling cloud of smoke
  3. verb envelop completely
    surround.
    • smother the meat in gravy
  4. verb deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
    asphyxiate; suffocate.
    • Othello smothered Desdemona with a pillow
    • The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor
  5. verb conceal or hide
    muffle; strangle; stifle; repress.
    • smother a yawn
    • muffle one's anger
    • strangle a yawn
  6. verb form an impenetrable cover over
    • the butter cream smothered the cake
  7. verb deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion
    put out.
    • smother fires

WordNet

Smoth"er transitive verb
Etymology
OE. smotheren; akin to E. smoor. See Smoor.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Smothered ; present participle & verbal noun Smothering
Definitions
  1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child.
  2. To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick covering, as of ashes, of smoke, or the like; as, to smother a fire.
  3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's displeasure.
Smoth"er intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be suffocated or stifled.
  2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder.
Smoth"er noun
Etymology
OE. smorther. See Smother, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. Shak.
  2. A state of suppression. Obs.
    Not to keep their suspicions in smother. Bacon.

Webster 1913