Smothering

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Smother \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.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public
        view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's
        displeasure.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  smothering
       adj : causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of
             fresh air and presence of heat; "the choking June
             dust"; "the smothering soft voices"; "smothering heat";
             "the room was suffocating--hot and airless" [syn: {suffocating},
              {suffocative}]