smother — to kill someone by covering their face so that they cannot breathe
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to kill someone by covering their face so that they cannot breathe
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsmʌðər/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother tried to smother me with 47 different side dishes at dinner.
- The wildfire was smothered by the heavy rainfall.
- He had to smother his urge to correct his boss's terrible grammar.
smother
VERB[/ˈsmʌðər/]
to kill someone by covering their face so that they cannot breathe
Covering face to prevent breathing
A mother's touch protects, another might smother.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'smotheren', likely derived from Old English 'smorþrian' or related to 'smoor' meaning to choke or suffocate. The ultimate origin is uncertain but may be related to smoke or a smothering sensation.
Breakdown
smother: from Old English 'smor-' (choke/suffocate) + '-ther' (causative suffix) = smother (to suffocate or suppress)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother tried to smother me with 47 different side dishes at dinner.”
“The wildfire was smothered by the heavy rainfall.”
“He had to smother his urge to correct his boss's terrible grammar.”
“The scandal was quickly smothered by the company's PR team.”
“My cat likes to smother me with 'affection' at 3 AM by sitting on my face.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.