Hypertext Webster Gateway: "smothering"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Smother \Smoth"er\, 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.
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.
3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public
view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's
displeasure.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
smothering
adj : causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of
fresh air and presence of heat; "the choking June
dust"; "the smothering soft voices"; "smothering heat";
"the room was suffocating--hot and airless" [syn: {choking},
{suffocating}, {suffocative}]
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