ˈklʌtə(ɹ) ˈklʌtɚ ˈfʌdəl ˈmɛːz nɛst ˈmʌdəl mʌfl̩ ɹəˈpɹɛs ˈstɹæŋɡ(ə)l ˈstɹæŋɡəl səˈɹaʊnd suppress in order to conceal or hide smother a yawn muffle one's anger strangle a laugh repress a cry of fear envelop completely smother the meat in gravy deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion smother fires deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing Othello smothered Desdemona with a pillow The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor form an impenetrable cover over the butter cream smothered the cake a stifling cloud of smoke a confused multitude of things