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   smother

   /ˈsmʌðə/

   verb

   • 1. kill (someone) by covering their nose and mouth so that they suffocate: "I dreamt a stranger was trying to kill me by smothering me with a pillow" Similar suffocatestifleasphyxiatechokethrottlestranglestrangulate
   • ▪ make (someone) feel trapped and oppressed by acting in an overly protective manner towards them: "it's time for you to leave the house—she'll smother you if you remain" Similar overwhelminundateenveloptrapsurroundcocoon
   • 2. extinguish (a fire) by covering it: "use a fire blanket to smother a chip-pan fire" Similar extinguishput outsnuff outdampendamp downstamp outdousechoke
   • ▪ suppress (a feeling or action): "she smothered a sigh" Similar stiflemufflestranglegagrestrainrepresssuppresshold backkeep backfight backchoke backbite backswallowcontainbottle upconcealhidebite one's lipinformal:button upkeep the lid oncork up
   • ▪ (in sport) stop the motion of (the ball or a shot): "the goalkeeper was able to smother the ball"
   • 3. cover someone or something entirely with: "rich orange sorbets smothered in fluffy whipped cream" Similar smeardaubbedaubspreadcoverliterary:besmear

   noun

   • 1. a mass of something that stifles or obscures: "all this vanished in a smother of foam"

   Word Origin Middle English (as a noun in the sense ‘stifling smoke’): from the base of Old English smorian ‘suffocate’.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • S

     1

   • M

     3

   • O

     1

   • T

     1

   • H

     4

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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