| 释义 |
smoth·er
I. \ˈsməthə(r)\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of smorther, from smoren to smother, from Old English smorian to suffocate, strangle; akin to Middle Dutch smoren to suffocate, stew, Middle Low German smōren, and perhaps to Middle Dutch smölen to smolder, scorch — more at smell
1.
a. : thick stifling smoke : a suffocating smudge or smoky condition
b. : a state of being stifled or suppressed : a smoldering or dampened fire
2. : a dense cloud of fog, foam, spray, snow, or dust
< logs … rolled and tossed in a creamy smother — Kenneth Roberts >
< come with her tail up in a smother of flying sand — Mary H. Vorse >
3. : a confused multitude or rush of things : welter
< smother of flowering creepers and climbers — Jean Devanny >
< in a smother of shoal-water waves that roll you down to leeward — S.E.Morison >
II. verb
(smothered ; smothered ; smothering \-th(ə)riŋ\ ; smothers)
Etymology: Middle English smotheren, alteration of smortheren, from smorther, n.
transitive verb
1. : to overcome or kill with smoke or fumes
2.
a. : to destroy the life of by depriving of air
< smother a child with a pillow >
< smother seedlings in a tight cold frame >
b. : to overcome or discomfit through or as if through lack of adequate air
< such close quarters tend to smother one >
c. : to suppress (a fire) by excluding oxygen
3. : to cover or overlay oppressively: as
a. : to cause to smolder rather than blaze by or as if by covering
< smother a fire with too much coal >
b. : to suppress or prevent expression, utterance, notice, or knowledge of as though by thick covering
< smother a secret >
< he smothered his rage >
< the bill was smothered in committee >
— often used with up
c. : to stop or prevent the growth, development, activity, or vitality of by or as if by thick cover or dense concentration around
< moralized, intellectualized, and nearly smothered by Harvard — H.S.Canby >
< little flowers smothered by the weeds >
< smother weeds in a field by planting sorghum >
d. : to cover thickly, settle over, or blanket completely or restrictingly
< a record snow smothering the valley >
e. : to overcome quickly and completely : vanquish at once and render utterly helpless
< Belgian units smothered by the invading Germans >
< state smothered Tech by a score of 52-0 >
f. : to hit (a golf ball) low along the ground through faulty execution of a lofting stroke
g. : to play (a bowled cricket ball) from above with a sharp downward defensive stroke
4.
a. : to cook (meat, vegetables) in a covered pan or pot with very little liquid over low heat
< smothered round steak and onions >
< smothered cabbage >
b. : to serve (food) covered with other food cooked or uncooked
< gingerbread smothered with whipped cream >
< broiled steak smothered with mushrooms >
intransitive verb
1. : to suffer or die from lack of air
< were smothering in the sultry heat >
< the child smothered in the locked chest >
2. dialect Britain : smolder
3. : to undergo suppression, repression, extreme restraint, or concealment
< his anger smothered and died >
Synonyms: see suffocate
III. noun
(-s)
: smothering |