v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Smothered p. pr. & vb. n. Smothering. ] [ OE. smotheren; akin to E. smoor. See Smoor. ] 1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick covering, as of ashes, of smoke, or the like; as, to smother a fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's displeasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be suffocated or stifled. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. smorther. See Smother, v. t. ] 1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state of suppression. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Not to keep their suspicions in smother. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which smothers or causes a sensation of smothering, as smoke, fog, the foam of the sea, a confused multitude of things.

Then they vanished, swallowed up in the grayness of the evening and the smoke and smother of the storm. The Century. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Smother fly (Zool.), an aphid. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Chess) Checkmate given when movement of the king is completely obstructed by his own men. This can only occur when an opponent moves a knight into a position to give a check to the king. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. The quality or state of being smothery. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a smothering manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to smother; stifling. [ 1913 Webster ]