smother

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsmʌðə/

verb

[with object]
  • 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

Origin:

Middle English (as a noun in the sense 'stifling smoke'): from the base of Old English smorian 'suffocate'