Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: , past participle of suffocare, from sub- ( SUB-) + fauces 'throat'

suffocate

 verb
     
suf‧fo‧cate
1 [intransitive and transitive] to die or make someone die by preventing them from breathing:
The animal seizes its prey by the throat and suffocates it to death.
One of the puppies suffocated inside the plastic bag.
2

be suffocating

to feel uncomfortable because there is not enough fresh air:
Can you open a window? I'm suffocating.
3 [transitive] to prevent a relationship, plan, business etc from developing well or being successful:
Jealousy can suffocate any relationship.
—suffocation noun [uncountable]
WORD FOCUS: breathe WORD FOCUS: breathe
to breathe in: inhale formal
to breathe out: exhale formal
to breathe noisily: sniff, snore (when sleeping)
snort, sigh
to breathe with difficulty: gasp, pant, wheeze, be short of breath, be out of breath
to be unable to breathe: choke, suffocatebreathe

➔ See also breathe
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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