smother
Word family adjectivesmotheredsmotherynounsmotherersmotherinesssmotheringadverbsmotheringlyverbsmother
smoth·er /ˈsmʌðə $ -ər/ verb [transitiveT] 1 COVERto completely cover the whole surface of something with something else, often in a way that seems unnecessary or unpleasant 完全覆盖,厚厚地覆盖smother something with/in something noodles smothered in garlic sauce 盖了厚厚蒜蓉酱的面
2 KILLBREATHEto kill someone by putting something over their face to stop them breathing 使窒息,把…闷死 → suffocate A teenage mother was accused of smothering her 3-month-old daughter. 一个少女妈妈被指控闷死自己三个月大的女儿。
3 HIDE/NOT SHOWto stop yourself from showing your feelings or from doing an action 压抑〔感情〕;克制〔行为〕 SYN stifle The girls tried to smother their giggles. 女孩们使劲忍住不笑出声来。
4 EMOTIONALto give someone so much love and attention that they feel as if they are not free and become unhappy 〔因爱得太过分〕使受不了,使不自在 I don’t want him to feel smothered. 我不想让他感到窒息。
5. smother somebody with kisses to kiss someone a lot 给某人一阵狂吻smother somebody with kisses• She laughed and screamed until I had to smother her mouth with kisses. 6 BURN#to make a fire stop burning by preventing air from reaching it 把〔火〕闷熄 We used a wet towel to smother the fire. 我们用一块湿毛巾把火扑灭。
7 STOP something THAT IS HAPPENINGto get rid of anyone who opposes you – used to show disapproval 清除,压制〔反对者;含贬义〕 They ruthlessly smother all opposition. 他们无情地清除所有异己。
Origin smother (1100-1200) smother “thick smoke” ((12-19 centuries)), from Old English smorian “to suffocate”