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smooth2 [transitive]
1 to make something such as cloth or hair flat by moving your hands across it : 
Liz smoothed her skirt and sat down.
Liz smoothed her skirt and sat down.2 also smooth down to make a rough surface flat and even : The wood was smoothed and trimmed to size. Smooth down all the surfaces before you start painting.
The wood was smoothed and trimmed to size.Smooth down all the surfaces before you start painting.3 [always + adverb/preposition] to rub a liquid, cream etc gently over a surface or into a surface
4 to make it easier for something to happen, by dealing with any problems first : Staff helped smooth the way for the new administration.
smooth the way/path for something
Staff helped smooth the way for the new administration.smooth something ↔ away
phrasal verbA few objections have to be smoothed away before we can start the project.smooth something ↔ out
phrasal verb1 to make something such as paper or cloth flat by moving your hands across it : They smoothed out the map on the table. Smooth out all the wrinkles.
They smoothed out the map on the table.Smooth out all the wrinkles.2 to make something happen in an even, regular way : Sometimes central banks intervene to smooth out price fluctuations.
Sometimes central banks intervene to smooth out price fluctuations.3 to get rid of problems or difficulties
smooth something ↔ over
phrasal verbSally managed to smooth over the bad feelings between them.