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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Origin: | smother 'thick smoke' (12-19 centuries), from Old English smorian 'to suffocate' |
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smoth‧er
[transitive]
[transitive]1 to completely cover the whole surface of something with something else, often in a way that seems unnecessary or unpleasant
2 to kill someone by putting something over their face to stop them breathing [↪ suffocate]: 
A teenage mother was accused of smothering her 3-month-old daughter.
A teenage mother was accused of smothering her 3-month-old daughter.3 to stop yourself from showing your feelings or from doing an action [= stifle]: The girls tried to smother their giggles.
The girls tried to smother their giggles.4 to give someone so much love and attention that they feel as if they are not free and become unhappy : I don't want him to feel smothered.
I don't want him to feel smothered.6 to make a fire stop burning by preventing air from reaching it : We used a wet towel to smother the fire.
We used a wet towel to smother the fire.7 to get rid of anyone who opposes you - used to show disapproval : They ruthlessly smother all opposition.
They ruthlessly smother all opposition.