ˈsmʌðə v. & n. --v. 1 tr.
suffocate; stifle;
kill by
stopping the breath of or excluding
air from. 2 tr. (foll. by with)
overwhelm with (kisses, gifts,
kindness, etc.) (smothered with affection). 3 tr. (foll. by
in, with)
cover entirely in or with (chicken smothered in mayonnaise). 4 tr.
extinguish or
deaden (a
fire or flame) by
covering it or heaping it with ashes etc. 5 intr. a die of suffocation. b
have difficulty breathing. 6 tr. (often foll. by up)
suppress or
conceal;
keep from
notice or
publicity. 7 tr. US
defeat rapidly or utterly. --n. 1 a
cloud of
dust or
smoke. 2
obscurity caused by
this. øsmothered mate
Chess checkmate in
which the
king, having no
vacant square to
move to, is checkmated by a
knight. [ME smorther f. the stem of OE smorian suffocate]