smother

verb

• 1kill (someone) by covering their nose and mouth so that they suffocate: a teenage mum tried to smother her baby in hospital
• 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

• 2extinguish (a fire) by covering it: use a fire blanket to smother a chip-pan fire
• suppress (a feeling or action):she smothered a sigh
• (in sport) stop the motion of (the ball or a shot):the goalkeeper was able to smother the ball

• 3 (smother someone/thing in/with) cover someone or something entirely with:rich orange sorbets smothered in fluffy whipped cream
• cook in a covered container: (as adjective smothered)smothered fried chicken

noun

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