0 present participle of smother
1 to kill someone by covering their face so that they cannot breathe:
2 to prevent something from developing or growing freely:
It is one of only three remaining broads not to have its water quality impaired by a smothering of its aquatic flora by iron ochre and silt.
That leads one to ask why this smothering blanket of secrecy that so many have argued against is not swept away.
We are trying to find ways of pooling our efforts and our energies without smothering that diversity.
Refuse dumped at sea leads to plastic film damaging aquatic life, smothering fish and plant life and wrapping round the propellors of ships.
All experience clearly indicates that that expenditure is smothering the nation.
There is the nationalisation of shipbuilding and aircraft, thereby smothering two more industries under the blanket of nationalisation.
This provision requires carbon-dioxide appliances to be built into vessels for fire smothering purposes.
It has become a great big smothering blanket.
