Stifle
WordNet
noun
(1) Joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee
verb
(2) Be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen
"The child suffocated under the pillow"
(3) Smother or suppress
"Stifle your curiosity"
(4) Impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of
"The foul air was slowly suffocating the children"
(5) Conceal or hide
"Smother a yawn"
"Muffle one's anger"
"Strangle a yawn"
WiktionaryText
Noun
Verb
- To interrupt or cut off.
- To repress, keep in or hold back.
- The army stifled the rebellion.
- To smother or suffocate.
- The heat was stifling.
- To feel smothered etc.
- To die of suffocation.
- Two firemen tragically stifled in yesterday's fire when trying to rescue an old lady from her bedroom.