suffocate definition |Dictionary.com

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suffocate

7 dictionary results for: suffocate

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

suf·fo·cate

[suhf-uh-keyt] Pronunciation Key verb, -cat·ed, -cat·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to kill by preventing the access of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.

2.	to impede the respiration of.

3.	to discomfort by a lack of fresh or cool air.

4.	to overcome or extinguish; suppress.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to become suffocated; stifle; smother.

6.	to be uncomfortable due to a lack of fresh or cool air.

[Origin: 1520–30; < L suffōcātus (ptp. of suffōcāre to choke, stifle), equiv. to suf- suf- + -fōc- (comb. form of fauc-, s. of faucés throat) + -ātus -ate¹

]

—Related forms

suf·fo·cat·ing·ly, adverb

suf·fo·ca·tion, noun

suf·fo·ca·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

suf·fo·cate   (sŭf'ə-kāt') Pronunciation Key
v.   suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing, suf·fo·cates

v.   tr.

To kill or destroy by preventing access of air or oxygen.
To impair the respiration of; asphyxiate.
To cause discomfort to by or as if by cutting off the supply of fresh air.
To suppress the development, imagination, or creativity of; stifle: "The rigid formality of the place suffocated her" (Thackeray).

v. intr.

To die from lack of air or oxygen; be asphyxiated.
To feel discomfort from lack of fresh air.
To become or feel suppressed; be stifled.

[Latin suffōcāre, suffōcāt- : sub-, sub- + faucēs, throat.]

suf'fo·ca'ting·ly adv., suf'fo·ca'tion n., suf'fo·ca'tive adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

suffocate
verb
1.	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" [syn: smother]
2.	impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of; "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children"
3.	become stultified, suppressed, or stifled; "He is suffocating--living at home with his aged parents in the small village"
4.	suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of; "His job suffocated him"
5.	be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen; "The child suffocated under the pillow"
6.	feel uncomfortable for lack of fresh air; "The room was hot and stuffy and we were suffocating"
7.	struggle for breath; have insufficient oxygen intake; "he swallowed a fishbone and gagged" [syn: gag]