How Do You Spell SMOTHER?

Pronunciation: [smˈʌðə] (IPA)

The word "smother" is spelled with the letter combination "sm" representing the consonant cluster /sm/. The "o" is pronounced as a short vowel sound /ʌ/, represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /ˈsmʌðər/. The "th" digraph represents the voiceless dental fricative sound /θ/. The final "er" is pronounced as the unstressed syllable with the schwa vowel sound /ə/. Overall, the spelling of "smother" accurately reflects its pronunciation in English.

SMOTHER Meaning and Definition

  1. Smother is a verb that can be used in various contexts with different meanings. One definition of smother is the act of covering something completely or enveloping it in a way that restricts its movement or exposure. This can be applied literally, such as using a blanket to smother a fire, or figuratively, like a parent smothering a child with overly protective care. It implies an action of completely blocking, suppressing, or snuffing out something.

    Additionally, smother can also refer to the act of stifling or suffocating someone or something, either physically or emotionally. For instance, in the case of a pillow smothering a person, it suggests an intentional action to cause harm or prevent the individual from breathing. In a figurative sense, it can describe the suppression of ideas, emotions, or creative expression, where one's voice or autonomy is silenced or inhibited by external factors or entities.

    Furthermore, smother can have a connotation related to excessive or overwhelming affection or attention. When someone is said to smother another person, it implies an intense, suffocating display of love or care. It suggests an overbearing and controlling behavior that may hinder the recipient's freedom or personal space.

    Overall, the term smother encompasses several meanings, ranging from physical covering and suppression to emotional suffocation due to excessive care or attention.

  2. • To extinguish life by causing smoke or dust to enter th lungs, or by depriving the lungs of air; to extinguish fire by excluding air; to suffocate; to choke; to be suffocated; to be suppressed or concealed.
    • That which suffocates; smoke; thick dust.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for SMOTHER *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SMOTHER

Etymology of SMOTHER

The word "smother" comes from the Old English verb "smorian", which meant "to suffocate". This Old English word is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "smorjan", which has the same meaning. Furthermore, "smorjan" likely traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*smor-", meaning "to smoke" or "to blacken". Over time, the word "smother" evolved to refer more specifically to the act of covering something to deprive it of oxygen or to suppress and extinguish a fire by cutting off the supply of air.

Idioms with the word SMOTHER

  • smother sm or sth with sth The idiom "smother someone or something with something" means to cover or surround someone or something completely and sometimes excessively with a particular substance, object, or affectionate attention. This can be used both in literal and figurative senses.

Similar spelling words for SMOTHER

Plural form of SMOTHER is SMOTHERS

Conjugate verb Smother

CONDITIONAL

I would smother
you would smother
he/she/it would smother
we would smother
they would smother

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be smothering
you would be smothering
he/she/it would be smothering
we would be smothering
they would be smothering

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have smother
you would have smother
he/she/it would have smother
we would have smother
they would have smother

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been smothering
you would have been smothering
he/she/it would have been smothering
we would have been smothering
they would have been smothering

FUTURE

I will smother
you will smother
he/she/it will smother
we will smother
they will smother

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be smothering
you will be smothering
he/she/it will be smothering
we will be smothering
they will be smothering

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have smothered
you will have smothered
he/she/it will have smothered
we will have smothered
they will have smothered

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been smothering
you will have been smothering
he/she/it will have been smothering
we will have been smothering
they will have been smothering

IMPERATIVE

you smother
we let´s smother

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to smother

PAST

I smothered
you smothered
he/she/it smothered
we smothered
they smothered

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was smothering
you were smothering
he/she/it was smothering
we were smothering
they were smothering

PAST PARTICIPLE

smothered

PAST PERFECT

I had smothered
you had smothered
he/she/it had smothered
we had smothered
they had smothered

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been smothering
you had been smothering
he/she/it had been smothering
we had been smothering
they had been smothering

PRESENT

I smother
you smother
he/she/it smothers
we smother
they smother

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am smothering
you are smothering
he/she/it is smothering
we are smothering
they are smothering

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

smothering

PRESENT PERFECT

I have smothered
you have smothered
he/she/it has smothered
we have smothered
they have smothered

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been smothering
you have been smothering
he/she/it has been smothering
we have been smothering
they have been smothering
I would have smothered
we would have smothered
you would have smothered
he/she/it would have smothered
they would have smothered

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