smother
smother Lexical Profile
smother Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To suffocate or extinguish someone or something by covering them completely and cutting off air.
"He used a heavy wool blanket to smother the flames before the fire could spread."
To overwhelm someone with an excessive amount of affection, care, or protection.
"Well-meaning parents sometimes smother their children by refusing to let them make their own mistakes."
To cover food completely with a thick layer of sauce, gravy, onions, or another topping, or to cook it in a covered pan.
"The chef likes to smother the grilled pork chops in caramelized onions and mushroom gravy."
To suppress or hold back a feeling, reaction, or action such as a yawn or laugh.
"She tried to smother a laugh during the quiet lecture by covering her mouth."
• noun
A dense, suffocating cloud of smoke, dust, or fog, or a confused mass of things.
"The firefighters had to navigate through a thick smother of smoke to reach the upper floor."
• Rhymes for smother
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Middle English smorther ('dense, suffocating smoke'), from the Old English stem smor-, related to smorian ('to suffocate or choke').