stifle
1[ stahy-fuhl ]
/ ˈstaɪ fəl /
verb (used with object), sti·fled, sti·fling.
to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle a revolt; to stifle free expression.
to suppress, curb, or withhold: to stifle a yawn.
to kill by impeding respiration; smother.
verb (used without object), sti·fled, sti·fling.
to suffer from difficulty in breathing, as in a close atmosphere.
to become stifled or suffocated.
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Question 1 of 7
What does "scattergood" mean?
a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of stifle
11350–1400; Middle English <Old Norse stīfla to stop up, dam, akin to stīfr stiff
SYNONYMS FOR stifle
OTHER WORDS FROM stifle
stifler, nounun·sti·fled, adjectiveWords nearby stifle
Definition for stifle (2 of 2)
stifle2
[ stahy-fuhl ]
/ ˈstaɪ fəl /
noun
(in a horse or other quadruped) the joint between the femur and the tibia, corresponding anatomically to the human knee.
Also called stifle joint .
Origin of stifle
21275–1325; Middle English < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for stifle
British Dictionary definitions for stifle (1 of 2)
stifle1
/ (ˈstaɪfəl) /
verb
(tr) to smother or suppressstifle a cough
to feel or cause to feel discomfort and difficulty in breathing
to prevent or be prevented from breathing so as to cause death
(tr) to crush or stamp out
Derived forms of stifle
stifler, nounWord Origin for stifle
C14: variant of stuflen, probably from Old French estouffer to smother
British Dictionary definitions for stifle (2 of 2)
stifle2
/ (ˈstaɪfəl) /
noun
the joint in the hind leg of a horse, dog, etc, between the femur and tibia
Word Origin for stifle
C14: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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