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Webster 1913 Edition

Smother

Smoth′er

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Smothered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Smothering
.]
[OE.
smotheren
; akin to E.
smoor
. See
Smoor
.]
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

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be suffocated or stifled.
2.
To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder.

Smoth′er

,
Noun.
[OE.
smorther
. See
Smother
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
Stifling smoke; thick dust.
Shak.
2.
A state of suppression.
[Obs.]
Not to keep their suspicions in
smother
.
Bacon.
Smother fly
(Zool.)
,
an aphid.

Webster 1828 Edition

Smother

SMOTHER

,
Verb.
T.
[allied perhaps to smoke.]
1.
To suffocate of extinguish life by causing smoke or dust to enter the lungs; to stifle.
2.
To suffocate or extinguish by closely covering, and be the exclustion of air; as, to smother a child in bed.
3.
To suppress; to stifle; as, to smother the light of the understanding.

SMOTHER

,
Noun.
1.
Smoke; thick dust.
2.
A state of suppression. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

smother

smother

English

Alternative forms

Verb

smother ‎(third-person singular simple present smothers, present participle smothering, simple past and past participle smothered)

  1. (transitive) To suffocate; stifle; obstruct, more or less completely, the respiration of something or someone.
  2. (transitive) To extinguish or deaden, as fire, by covering, overlaying, or otherwise excluding the air: as, to smother a fire with ashes.
  3. (transitive) To reduce to a low degree of vigor or activity; suppress or do away with; extinguish; stifle; cover up; conceal; hide: as, the committee's report was smothered.
  4. (transitive) In cookery: to cook in a close dish: as, beefsteak smothered with onions.
  5. (transitive) To daub or smear.
  6. (intransitive) To be suffocated.
  7. (intransitive) To breathe with great difficulty by reason of smoke, dust, close covering or wrapping, or the like.
  8. (intransitive) Of a fire: to burn very slowly for want of air; smolder.
  9. (intransitive) Figuratively: to perish, grow feeble, or decline, by suppression or concealment; be stifled; be suppressed or concealed.
  10. (soccer) To get in the way of a kick of the ball
    • 2011 December 27, Mike Henson, “Norwich 0 - 2 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:
      Emmanuel Adebayor's touch proved a fraction heavy as he guided Van der Vaart's exquisite long ball round John Ruddy, before the goalkeeper did well to smother Bale's shot from Modric's weighted pass.
  11. (Australian rules football) To get in the way of a kick of the ball, preventing it going very far. When a player is kicking the ball, an opponent who is close enough will reach out with his hands and arms to get over the top of it, so the ball hits his hands after leaving the kicker's boot, dribbling away.
Related terms
Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English smother, smorther ‎(“a suffocating vapour, dense smoke”), from Old English *smorþor ‎(“smoke”, literally “that which suffocates”), from smorian ‎(“to suffocate, choke”) + -þor ‎(instrumental suffix).

Noun

smother ‎(plural smothers)

  1. That which smothers or appears to smother, particularly
    1. Smoldering; slow combustion
    2. Cookware used in such cooking
    3. The state of being stifled; suppression.
      • Francis Bacon
        not to keep their suspicions in smother
    4. Stifling smoke; thick dust.
      (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
    5. (Australian rules football) The act of smothering a kick (see above).

References

  • smother in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English smothren, smortheren, alteration (due to smother, smorther ‎(“a suffocating vapour, dense smoke”, noun)) of Middle English smoren ‎(“to smother”), from Old English smorian ‎(“to smother, suffocate, choke”), from Proto-Germanic *smurōną ‎(“to suffocate, strangle”). Cognate with Middle Low German smoren, smurten ‎(“to choke, suffocate”), West Flemish smoren ‎(“to smoke, reek”), Dutch smoren ‎(“to suffocate, smother", also "to stew, simmer”), German schmoren ‎(“to stew, simmer, braise”).

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ʌðə(r)

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