smother

• Nom désignant un amas confus de choses ou un nuage étouffant de fumée.

A noun referring to a confused multitude of things or a stifling cloud of smoke.

1. Confused multitude of thingsC1formal

   A large, confused, or disorderly collection of objects or people.

   Confusion, multitude confuse

   • The room was a smother of papers and books.
   • He found himself in a smother of people at the concert.
   • The desk was buried under a smother of unread documents.

   Synonymesclutterhodgepodgejumblemuddlewelter

2. Stifling cloud of smokeC1formal

   A thick, suffocating cloud of smoke or dust that makes breathing difficult.

   Nuée suffocante

   • The fire produced a smother of black smoke that filled the hallway.
   • They emerged from the burning building into a smother of ash.
   • A smother of dust rose from the collapsed wall.

   Synonymesblanketcloudhazemantlepallshroud

• Verbe désignant l'action de recouvrir entièrement quelque chose, de réprimer ou d'étouffer, ou encore de priver d'air.

A verb used to indicate the act of covering something completely, suppressing or stifling something, or depriving of air.

1. Envelop completelyB2formal

   To cover something entirely, often with a thick layer or substance.

   envelopper complètement

   • She smothered the cake with a thick layer of chocolate frosting.
   • The valley was smothered in a dense fog.
   • He smothered his face in a soft pillow.

   Synonymesblanketcoatcoverengulfenvelopoverlayshroudwrap

   Antonymesexposerevealuncover

2. Deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathingB2formal

   To kill or cause unconsciousness by stopping someone from breathing, often by covering the mouth and nose.

   étouffer (priver d'oxygène)

   • The villain tried to smother the hero with a pillow.
   • The smoke was so thick it nearly smothered the trapped miners.
   • The mother smothered her baby accidentally while sleeping.

   Synonymesasphyxiatechokestiflesuffocate

3. Conceal or hideC1formal

   To suppress or keep something from being expressed or known.

   étouffer (dissimuler)

   • He tried to smother his anger during the argument.
   • The government attempted to smother the scandal.
   • She smothered a laugh during the serious meeting.

   Synonymesconcealcurbhidemufflerepressrestrainstiflesuppress

   Antonymesdisclosedivulgeexposereveal

4. Form an impenetrable cover overC1formal

   To cover something so completely that nothing can get through.

   couvrir hermétiquement

   • The thick vines smothered the old stone wall.
   • The city was smothered by a blanket of smog.
   • The weeds smothered the flowers in the garden.

   Synonymesblanketcoverenvelopoverlayshroud

   Antonymesexposerevealuncover

5. Deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustionB2formal

   To extinguish a fire by cutting off its oxygen supply.

   Étouffer (un feu)

   • Use a fire blanket to smother the flames.
   • The firefighters smothered the blaze with foam.
   • He smothered the campfire with sand before leaving.

   Synonymeschokedouseextinguishquenchsnuff outstiflesuffocate

   Antonymesfuelignitekindlelight