Library / English Dictionary

SMOTHER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A stifling cloud of smoke

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("smother" is a kind of...):

fume; smoke (a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A confused multitude of things

Synonyms:

clutter; fuddle; jumble; mare's nest; muddle; smother; welter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("smother" is a kind of...):

disorder; disorderliness (a condition in which things are not in their expected places)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smother"):

rummage (a jumble of things to be given away)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Suppress in order to conceal or hide

Example:

repress a cry of fear

Synonyms:

muffle; repress; smother; stifle; strangle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "smother" is one way to...):

bottle up; inhibit; suppress (consciously restrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

smotherer (a person who stifles or smothers or suppresses)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Envelop completely

Example:

smother the meat in gravy

Synonyms:

smother; surround

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "smother" is one way to...):

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The wind storms smother the area with dust and dirt

Sense 3

Meaning:

Deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion

Example:

smother fires

Synonyms:

put out; smother

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "smother" is one way to...):

extinguish; snuff out (put an end to; kill)

"Smother" entails doing...:

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing

Example:

The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor

Synonyms:

asphyxiate; smother; suffocate

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "smother" is one way to...):

kill (cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly)

"Smother" entails doing...:

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Verb group:

asphyxiate; stifle; suffocate (be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They want to smother the prisoners

Sense 5

Meaning:

Form an impenetrable cover over

Example:

the butter cream smothered the cake

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "smother" is one way to...):

cover; spread over (form a cover over)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sentence example:

Dust and dirt smother the area

Credits

 Context examples: 

Of my darling being almost smothered among the flowers, and coming out, laughing and crying both together, to my jealous arms.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A NASA-led team has found evidence that the oversized planet WASP-18b is wrapped in a smothering stratosphere loaded with carbon monoxide and devoid of water.

(WASP-18b Has Smothering Stratosphere Without Water, NASA)

I could have screamed aloud; I sought with tears and prayers to smother down the crowd of hideous images and sounds with which my memory swarmed against me; and still, between the petitions, the ugly face of my iniquity stared into my soul.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Symptoms experienced during a panic attack include dyspnea or sensations of being smothered; dizziness, loss of balance or faintness; choking sensations; palpitations or accelerated heart rate; shakiness; sweating; nausea or other form of abdominal distress; depersonalization or derealization; paresthesias; hot flashes or chills; chest discomfort or pain; fear of dying and fear of not being in control of oneself or going crazy.

(Panic Disorder, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

“It’s the bloody mate!” was Leach’s crafty answer, strained from him in a smothered sort of way.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The iron fire-basket was carried bodily out by Mr. Trelawney, and the embers smothered among sand.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

As he did so he started back, and I could hear his ejaculation, "Mein Gott!" as it was smothered in his throat.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Jo smothered a laugh at the sudden change, and when someone gave a modest tap, opened the door with a grim aspect which was anything but hospitable.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I know I must conceal my sentiments: I must smother hope; I must remember that he cannot care much for me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The night was not so pleasant as the evening, for it got chilly; and being put between two gentlemen (the rough-faced one and another) to prevent my tumbling off the coach, I was nearly smothered by their falling asleep, and completely blocking me up.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)