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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Smother: Definition, Usage & Examples Explained (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：suffocate (smother)

smother 🔊
/ˈsmʌðər/
v.
to stop someone from breathing, often by covering their face. It can also mean to make someone feel very restricted and unhappy.
Illustration of the word smother meaning to suffocate, showing a face covered by a blanket.
suffocate 🔊
➕
/ˈsʌfəkeɪt/
v.
To cause someone to stop breathing, typically by covering their nose and mouth. It can also describe overwhelming someone emotionally.
📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation
From Old English ‘smorian’ meaning to suffocate, related to ‘smoke’.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of ‘SMOOTH’ + ‘MOTHER’. A mother's overly protective love can sometimes feel like it's ‘smothering’ (suffocating) you.
📖 Example
The baby turned over in her sleep and smothered in the soft pillow. 🔊 The baby accidentally suffocated by turning face down into the soft pillow while sleeping.
🔗 Collocations
smother with affection – To overwhelm someone with excessive attention or love.
🔄 Synonyms
suffocate (v.) – To die or cause to die from lack of air.
stifle (v.) – To make someone unable to breathe comfortably; to suppress.
🚫 Antonyms
breathe (v.) – To take air into the lungs and expel it.
liberate (v.) – To set someone free from a restrictive situation.
🌱 Derivatives
smotherer (n.) – A person or thing that smothers.
smothery (adj.) – Having a stifling or suffocating quality.
📖 Cultural Story
The word ‘smother’ comes from Old English ‘smorian’ (to suffocate, choke). It is related to Middle Dutch ‘smoren’ and possibly to ‘smoke’, as dense smoke can cause suffocation. It has retained its core meaning of deprivation of air for centuries.

Meaning 2：cover heavily (smother)

smother 🔊
/ˈsmʌðər/
v.
to cover something or someone thickly or completely with something else.
Visual definition of smother as covering heavily, showing a cake being frosted thickly.
cover heavily 🔊
➕
/ˈkʌvər ˈhɛvɪli/
v.
To cover something completely and thickly with another substance.
📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example
She decided to smother the plain chocolate cake in a thick layer of whipped cream and fresh strawberries. 🔊 She covered the simple cake entirely with a generous amount of cream and strawberries.
🔗 Collocations
smother in sauce – To cover food completely with a liquid seasoning.
🔄 Synonyms
cover (v.) – To place something over or upon.
blanket (v.) – To cover something completely, like a blanket.
🚫 Antonyms
expose (v.) – To leave uncovered or make visible.
🌱 Derivatives
smothering (adj.) – Acting to cover something thickly.

Meaning 3：extinguish by covering (smother)

smother 🔊
/ˈsmʌðər/
v.
to put out a fire by covering it to stop it from getting air.
Diagram showing smother meaning to extinguish fire by covering it with a lid.
extinguish by covering 🔊
➕
/ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ baɪ ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
v.
To put out a fire by covering it to cut off its oxygen supply.
📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example
When the oil in the pan caught fire, he quickly grabbed the lid to smother the flames. 🔊 He used a lid to cover and extinguish the fire that started in the frying pan.
🔗 Collocations
smother the flames – To extinguish a fire by depriving it of oxygen.
🔄 Synonyms
extinguish (v.) – To cause a fire or light to stop burning or shining.
douse (v.) – To pour a liquid over to extinguish a fire.
🚫 Antonyms
ignite (v.) – To cause something to start burning.
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