smoothsmooth1 /smuːð/ ●●● W3 adjective (comparative smoother, superlative smoothest) 
Her skin felt smooth and cool. a smooth pebble The stone steps had been worn smooth.► see thesaurus at flat2happening without problems happening or operating successfully, without any problemssmooth running/operation Sarah is responsible for the smooth running of the sales department. The new government has promised a smooth transition of power. → go smoothly at smoothly(2)3movement [only before noun] with no sudden movements or changes of direction, especially in a way that is graceful or comfortable: Swing the tennis racket in one smooth motion. The jet made a smooth landing.smooth flight/ride (=a comfortable trip in an airplane or car) It wasn’t a very smooth ride.► see thesaurus at comfortable4person someone who is smooth is polite, confident, and relaxed, but is often not sincere: a smooth salesman He was a smooth talker. George is a smooth operator (=someone who does things in a smooth way).5liquid mixture a liquid mixture that is smooth has no big pieces in it OPP lumpy: Beat the eggs and flour until they are smooth.6sound a voice or music that is smooth is soft and pleasant to listen to: smooth jazz He has one of those silky smooth (=very smooth) voices.7taste a drink such as wine, coffee, whisky, or beer that is smooth is not bitter but tastes pleasant: a smooth full-bodied wine—smoothness noun [uncountable]: the smoothness of his skin → smooth-talking
WORD ORIGINsmooth1
Origin:
Old English smothEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Smooth and charming, Francis was the kind of man your mother would love you to marry.
- a smooth flight
- a smooth lawyer
- a smooth, freshly-paved driveway
- a board with smooth edges
- a series of smooth, graceful ripples on the lake
- Add the remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
- Blend the strawberries with a little icing sugar in a food processor until it forms a smooth purée.
- Don't let his smooth manner fool you - he's just after your money.
- FrontPage is a software program that helps to organize the entire web site so that it works in a smooth fashion.
- It was one of the smoothest flights I've ever had.
- Moisturizers promise to leave your skin softer and smoother.
- She has lovely smooth skin.
- The car has excellent suspension and the journey was really smooth.
- The main responsibility of the Project Co-ordinator is to ensure the smooth running of the department.
- The marble table felt smooth and cold against her arm.
- To ensure a smooth change-over, we'd like you to start work one week before your predecessor leaves.
- We hope that most students will make a smooth transition into high school.
- Behind the scenes ... chaos ... smooth operators ... and hairdressers everywhere.
- It is a smooth spreading sausage, similar in texture to a fine liver sausage, with a bright pink colour.
- She felt too, as she mopped the trickling water from it, the smooth bronzed skin of the leg.
- Stir in currants and mixed peel. 3 Add enough milk to make a soft, smooth dough.
- The control exercised from this remote box, therefore, was vital to the smooth operation of this busy line.
- The eyebrows and eyelashes were drawn in an then very pale washes were put on, the paint smooth and even.
- The water around the fire was smooth as glass, black, like a standing pool of oil.
- Whisk cup water with lemon juice, flour and salt to taste until smooth.
THESAURUS
on one level, without any holes or raised areas, and not sloping or curving: · a flat roof· a flat screen· Before you lay the tiles, make sure that the ground is completely flat.
not sloping in any direction, so that every part is at the same height: · Is the top of this picture level?· After four hours coming down the mountain, I was glad to be back on level ground.
without any holes or raised areas – used especially when saying how something feels when you touch it: · her lovely smooth skin· I ran my hand across the animal’s smooth fur.
without any holes or raised areas: · Apply the paint to an even surface.· Be careful – the path is not very even here.
going straight across and not sloping: · a horizontal line· Raise both arms to a horizontal position.
making you feel physically relaxed, and not too hard, hot, cold etc. Also used about people feeling physically relaxed: · The hotel was very comfortable.· I tried to get into a more comfortable position.
informal comfortable – used especially about furniture and clothes: · a comfy armchair· These shoes are very comfy.· Are you comfy?
British English, cozy American English comfortable and warm – used especially about small rooms, houses etc: · There’s a cosy lounge with a real fire.· a cozy apartment
small, warm, and comfortable, especially in a way that makes you feel protected – used especially about rooms, houses etc. Also used about people feeling warm and comfortable: · It was very cold outside, but our tents were snug and warm.· She wished she was back in her snug little house.· I’m snug as a bug in a rug in here! (=very snug – used in informal British English)
a smooth journey is comfortable because your car or plane does not shake, or the sea is not rough: · Did you have a smooth flight?· a smooth crossing
Longman Language Activatorjourney/ride · "Did you have a good flight?" "Yes, very comfortable thank you."· The truck gives you a surprisingly comfortable ride.
a smooth journey is comfortable because your car or plane does not shake, or the sea is not rough: · It was one of the smoothest flights I've ever had.· The car has excellent suspension and the journey was really smooth.
organization/system/method an efficient organization, method, or system is one in which all the parts work well together and good results are achieved without any money or time being wasted: · The passport office seems very efficient - I got a new passport in just 48 hours.· We need more efficient methods of transporting goods.
also well-organised British organized in a careful and efficient way, and therefore likely to be successful: · The exhibition was very well-organized.· It was a well-organized demonstration, in which about 1000 people took part.· More employers now have well-financed and well-organized health promotion programs within the workplace.
use this about an organization or business that is successful and efficient because the people in charge organize it well: · The Klausner is a comfortable, well-run hotel.· Public transport in this country is well-run and inexpensive.
an organization or system that is very efficient and operates easily, without any problems: run/work like a well-oiled machine: · The administration runs like a well-oiled machine.
efficient and without problems or difficulties: · To ensure a smooth change-over, we'd like you to start work one week before your predecessor leaves.· FrontPage is a software program that helps to organize the entire web site so that it works in a smooth fashion.· The main responsibility of the Project Co-ordinator is to ensure the smooth running of the department.
flat and smooth a place that is flat has no hills or mountains; a surface or object that is flat has no raised or curved parts: · Cambridge is very flat and you can see for miles.· a flat, sandy beach· We sat down on a big flat rock.· Focaccia, an Italian flat bread, has become very popular for sandwiches.
a smooth surface feels completely flat and has no rough or raised parts, especially in a way that is pleasant and attractive: · The marble table felt smooth and cold against her arm.· She has lovely smooth skin.
a surface such as a floor or road that is even is completely flat and all its parts are at the same height: · The floor must be completely even before we lay the tiles.· After driving for so long on the gravel I was glad to get on an even stretch of road.
a liquid that is almost solid a thick liquid flows slowly because it is almost solid: · If you want to make the sauce thicker, add flour.· thick vegetable soup
a liquid that is lumpy contains small solid pieces, so it is not as smooth as it should be: · This gravy is lumpy.· I hate lumpy porridge.
thick and smooth like cream: · The tomato soup was hot, creamy and delicious.· Add the chocolate to the butter and eggs, stirring the mixture until it is thick and creamy.
if a liquid is smooth , it is thick and has no lumps in it, especially because it has been mixed very well: · Beat the eggs and flour until they are smooth.· Blend the strawberries with a little icing sugar in a food processor until it forms a smooth purée.
a soft and usually sticky mixture of liquid and another substance, which you can spread easily: · Mix the flour in just enough milk to make a smooth paste.· Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds.· He made a paste of mud and water.
polite, confident, and relaxed, but in an insincere way someone who is smooth , especially a man, has good manners and a relaxed, confident way of talking to people, but in a way that you do not completely trust: · Smooth and charming, Francis was the kind of man your mother would love you to marry.· Don't let his smooth manner fool you - he's just after your money.
very polite, pleasant and stylish, especially in a way that is intended to be attractive to women: · Reginald was suave, handsome and charming.· He was tall and suave, careful in dress, careful in behaviour.
WORD SETSacid, adjectiveacidic, adjectivebitter, adjectivebittersweet, adjectivebland, adjectivechalky, adjectivechocolatey, adjectivefishy, adjectivefloury, adjectivefoul, adjectivegamey, adjectivegamy, adjectiveminty, adjectivemoreish, adjectivenutty, adjectivepalatable, adjectivepalate, nounpeppery, adjectiveplummy, adjectiveripe, adjectivesavour, nounsavoury, adjectivesharp, adjectivesmooth, adjectivesoapy, adjectivesour, adjectivespearmint, nounsweet, adjectivesweet-and-sour, adjectivesweetness, nountang, nountaste, verbvanilla, adjectivevinegary, adjectivezing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The stone steps had been worn smooth. Sarah is responsible for the smooth running of the sales department. He was a smooth talker. George is a smooth operator (=someone who does things in a smooth way). He has one of those silky smooth (=very smooth) voices.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She smoothed the creases from her skirt. Her hands felt rough. The house felt hot and stuffy. He may not look it, but Newman is a smooth operator (=someone who is good at persuading people but who you feel you cannot trust). He praised the smooth running of the election. Mom thinks he’s a smooth talker (=someone who is polite and pleasant but who you do not trust).
The stone steps had been worn smooth. Sarah is responsible for the smooth running of the sales department. (=a comfortable trip in an airplane or car) It wasn’t a very smooth ride.
It wasn’t a very smooth ride. He was a smooth talker. George is a smooth operator (=someone who does things in a smooth way). He has one of those silky smooth (=very smooth) voices. She smoothed the creases from her skirt.· He drew a line on the paper in a smooth curve.
Her hands felt rough. The house felt hot and stuffy. (=pleasant and not strong or bitter)· Add milk to make the flavour more mellow.
(=with no problems or sudden movements)· The flight had been smooth all the way.
(=graceful)· Tom leaped over the fence in one smooth movement.
He may not look it, but Newman is a smooth operator (=someone who is good at persuading people but who you feel you cannot trust).· The new suspension produces a smoother ride.
He praised the smooth running of the election.· Her skin was smooth and pale.
· Marble provides a cool smooth surface.
Mom thinks he’s a smooth talker (=someone who is polite and pleasant but who you do not trust).· The dessert had a good all-round flavour and a smooth texture.
(=happening without any problems)· There were some difficulties in achieving a smooth transition to independence.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Designs of scars, battle marked patches, as smooth as sea washed pebbles - shocking!· The final stage of slipping the boltholes over the bolts is not always as smooth as it was with the first column.· He was black and gleaming, his outline as smooth as a dolphin's even down to the hint of rubber.· But this doll was as smooth between his legs as a baby girl.· All a dream and the glass was as smooth and blank as when I first installed it.· Sure enough, the channel was as smooth as silk.· An ocean as smooth as glass closing over things vast, alive and hateful.· It's as smooth as anything.
· What he had not anticipated was that the top of the train would be so smooth.· It was so smooth you hardly knew it-was happening.· Peach stared at the sea, so blue, so smooth.· They've gotten so smooth and perfect and it's amazing.· Even in rehearsal it requires stamina and dedication to make it appear so smooth.· Clean and new and so smooth.· Never as long as I live will I marry that sinister shark who pretends to be so smooth and loyal and hard-working.· The water was so smooth that he swam confidently out to where it was very deep.
· Consequently it was important that the bore of the cylinder was very smooth.· The universe could have started out in a very smooth and ordered state.· A good Vitesse engine is very smooth and quiet.· In childhood the arteries have very smooth internal linings.· Stefan Glowacz looked very smooth as he cruised his way to the only flash of the round.· Pound or whizz the whole mixture to a very smooth paste.· But this has an amazingly low action, very smooth and even.· Both types of cooker top are very smooth in appearance and easy to clean.
NOUN· The yield curve is a smooth curve through those points.· If the fish is suspended in open water with no obstacles around, the lines are smooth curves.· The basic idea is that a few parameters are turned into a smooth curve by a standardised computation.· On a smooth curve, both the values and the slopes at neighbouring time points are close together.· This is rather like being able to draw a straight line tangent at any point on a smooth curve.· Where the septum meets the body wall it does so in a smooth curve.
· Wallshield gives a smooth finish, and Sandshield a fine sand-textured finish.· These caulks are paintable, clean up with soap and water and also require some proficiency for a smooth finish.· These raised the nap on the cloth, which could then be cropped with shears to give it a smoother finish.· Endless Kiss gives a smooth finish and it contains a protective sunscreen.· Twin wire paper which has an identical smooth finish on both sides.· Blending is useful when trying to obtain a smooth finish.· You can ring the changes by exposing the aggregate and creating a rough surface texture if you find a smooth finish uninspiring.· The smooth finish means clothes are less likely to snag than on ordinary basketwork.
· It has been repeatedly reported that smooth muscle antibodies of autoimmune chronic hepatitis are directed to cell actin.· The muscles involved in such tremors and twitches are skeletal, as opposed to cardiac or smooth muscle.· In addition to its potent vasoconstrictive actions, ET-1 is also a mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells.· Chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction is usually caused by disease of the enteric nerves or smooth muscle.· The production of a visceral-specific anti-peptide antibody should permit a further investigation of its expression in smooth muscle cells.· This pattern was limited to the distal, smooth muscle portion of the oesophagus.· This would facilitate the calculation of peristaltic velocity and the speed of contractility of gut smooth muscle with high temporal resolution.· Several theories of the factors causing smooth muscle cell proliferation have been made.
· The control exercised from this remote box, therefore, was vital to the smooth operation of this busy line.· Somewhere along the line its deals undermined its smooth operation.· Gulping such a prey animal down head-first is a smooth operation.· Reengineering offered a technical fix for what were seen as lapses in the smooth operation of ongoing business processes.· In the silence he feels the smooth operations of the mind's incomparable picture show.· The Huey had snapped into smooth operation after more than a month of storage.· What specific tasks do you believe need to be tackled to create a smoother operation?· The intensive service with large locos and the smooth operation were certainly appreciated.
· Behind the scenes ... chaos ... smooth operators ... and hairdressers everywhere.· He was then a smooth operator.· Here are the big time smooth operators.· He may not look it, but he is a smooth operator.
· By later standards they were rather slow cars, but the trucks gave a smooth ride on straight track.· Please give my compliments to Captain Tynes, and thank him for the smooth ride.· All the rail joints would be welded by the Thermit process, to give a smooth ride throughout.· As far as home openers go, there have been smoother rides.· It is expected to be a smooth ride for the bill from here.· In particular, it boasts a longer wheelbase and new twist-beam suspension which produces a smoother ride and better handling.· The result is a smooth ride and relaxed, easy handling that makes it a great long-distance cruiser.
· This is essential to facilitate the smooth running of a sale and to provide the client with regular written status reports.· An angry mob creates confusion and prevents the smooth running of its hunting sequence.· The lights flickered and dimmed as the blast from a nearby explosion momentarily disturbed the smooth running of the generator.· But its smooth running depended very much upon their personal skill and devotion.· But only on account of the smooth running of the business, she realised.· In fairness to the smooth running of the place, shouldn't Silas be warned of Ling's prediction of trouble?· They shared their responsibilities for the smooth running of Zone I with the enthusiasm of those bound by a loveless marriage.· He's a sort of diocesan works manager responsible to the bishop for the smooth running of the parish priests.
· Sugar paste, the smooth skin of young girls.· He had a quick smile, smooth skin and a booming fascination with his own anatomy.· She glimpsed smooth skin, but the blood and dirt flooded back in.· They even have the same smooth skin.· They were a generation of large, well-nourished, beautiful children with silken hair, smooth skin and clear eyes.· A smooth skin also tans more evenly because you have removed dead skin cells.· He rested his eyes on her, very conscious of the smooth skin and her flowery perfume.
· The soft broom is used for light sweeping on smooth surfaces and the hard type for rough or wet work.· The smooth surface makes it easier for agents to detect footprints in the road.· A laser is used to etch a pattern of tiny flaws in the otherwise glassy smooth surface of the disc.· Harding gathers the dice up with his long fingers, feeling the smooth surfaces with his thumb as if he was blind.· However, if a hard smooth surface is required royal icing is very effective.· Benches with reversible tops give the option of either a smooth surface or recessed gravel trays for summer and are particularly useful.· She sighed and let her fingers move slowly down the dark, smooth surface of the glass.· The hard, smooth surface pressed to his face was covered in water.
· Safeway Organic Bananas, £1.59 for six A sweet banana with good all-round flavour and a smooth texture.
· Labour's complex leadership rules, first used to elect Mr Kinnock in 1983, make a smooth transition impossible.· The broadcasters say they need both analog and digital channels for 15 years to ensure a smooth transition to the digital age.· Johnson's first task was to ensure a smooth transition of power, and for the time being he kept together the Kennedy team.· Of this sector, electronic parts and components manufacturers made the smoothest transition to commercial markets.· Ensure that children and young people with learning disabilities have a smoother transition into adulthood and adult service networks.· Even so, Swilling expects his student to make a smooth transition to defensive end.· Again we're using repetition in different octaves and lots of slides and pull-offs to make a smooth transition between each position.· Chan cited signs that point to a smooth transition in 1997.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► smooth-textured/coarse-textured/fine-textured etc
- I needed them as much as they needed me and I happily took the rough with the smooth.
- You have to take the rough with the smooth.
WORD FAMILYnounsmoothnesssmoothieadjectivesmoothverbsmoothadverbsmoothly
1surface a smooth surface has no rough parts, lumps, or holes, especially in a way that is pleasant and attractive to touch OPP rough: Her skin felt smooth and cool. a smooth pebble The stone steps had been worn smooth.► see thesaurus at flat2happening without problems happening or operating successfully, without any problemssmooth running/operation Sarah is responsible for the smooth running of the sales department. The new government has promised a smooth transition of power. → go smoothly at smoothly(2)3movement [only before noun] with no sudden movements or changes of direction, especially in a way that is graceful or comfortable: Swing the tennis racket in one smooth motion. The jet made a smooth landing.smooth flight/ride (=a comfortable trip in an airplane or car) It wasn’t a very smooth ride.► see thesaurus at comfortable4person someone who is smooth is polite, confident, and relaxed, but is often not sincere: a smooth salesman He was a smooth talker. George is a smooth operator (=someone who does things in a smooth way).5liquid mixture a liquid mixture that is smooth has no big pieces in it OPP lumpy: Beat the eggs and flour until they are smooth.6sound a voice or music that is smooth is soft and pleasant to listen to: smooth jazz He has one of those silky smooth (=very smooth) voices.7taste a drink such as wine, coffee, whisky, or beer that is smooth is not bitter but tastes pleasant: a smooth full-bodied wine—smoothness noun [uncountable]: the smoothness of his skin → smooth-talking