Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Smother?

\Smoth"er\, n. That which smothers or causes a sensation of smothering, as smoke, fog, the foam of the sea, a confused multitude of things. Then they vanished, swallowed up in the grayness of the evening and the smoke and smother of the storm. --The Century.
\Smoth"er\, v. 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\, v. i. 1. To be suffocated or stifled. 2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder.
\Smoth"er\, n. [OE. smorther. See {Smother}, v. t.] 1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. --Shak. 2. A state of suppression. [Obs.] Not to keep their suspicions in smother. --Bacon. {Smother fly} (Zo["o]l.), an aphid.