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suffocating

 - 4 dictionary results

suf⋅fo⋅cate

  [suhf-uh-keyt] verb, -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing.
Use suffocating in a Sentence
–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 faucēs throat) + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
suf⋅fo⋅cat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
suf⋅fo⋅ca⋅tion, noun
suf⋅fo⋅ca⋅tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To suffocating
suf·fo·cate   (sŭf'ə-kāt')   
v.   suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing, suf·fo·cates

v.   tr.

  1. To kill or destroy by preventing access of air or oxygen.

  2. To impair the respiration of; asphyxiate.

  3. To cause discomfort to by or as if by cutting off the supply of fresh air.

  4. To suppress the development, imagination, or creativity of; stifle: "The rigid formality of the place suffocated her" (Thackeray).

v.   intr.

  1. To die from lack of air or oxygen; be asphyxiated.

  2. To feel discomfort from lack of fresh air.

  3. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: suf·fo·cate
Pronunciation: 's&f-&-"kAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -cat·ed; -cat·ing
transitive senses
1 : to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)
2 : to deprive of oxygen suffocate intransitivesenses
: to die from being unable to breathe —suf·fo·ca·tive /-"kAt-iv/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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

  1. To impair the respiration of; asphyxiate.

  2. To suffer from lack of oxygen; to be unable to breathe.

suf'fo·ca'tion n.
suf'fo·ca'tive adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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