---
title: smother — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «smother» in the school dictionary: To smother someone is to stop them breathing by covering their face, which can kill. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# smother

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, face, air, they, you, bags · **What happens:** be, breathe, cover, kill, smother, reach · **To what, where:** face, fire, chips, someone, them, lid · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«smother» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [smother in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/smother.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To smother someone is to stop them breathing by covering their face, which can kill.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:m1:1
# text = To smother someone is to stop them breathing by covering their face, which can kill.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	smother	smother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	vocative	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	breathing	breathe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	covering	cover	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	kill	kill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | smother *vocative*; stop *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **breathe** | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cover** | gerund | someone *not said here* | their face |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme face=Destination |
| 4 | **kill** | can | their face |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To smother a fire is to put it out by covering it so no air reaches it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:m2:1
# text = To smother a fire is to put it out by covering it so no air reaches it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	smother	smother	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	covering	cover	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
14	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	15	det	_	_
15	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	reaches	reach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smother** | to-infinitive |  | a fire |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme fire=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | put *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **cover** | gerund | no air *not said here* | fire |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Destination |
| 4 | **reach** | present | no air | fire |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To smother something is to cover it thickly: «chips smothered in sauce».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:m3:1
# text = To smother something is to cover it thickly: «chips smothered in sauce».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	smother	smother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cover	cover	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	thickly	thickly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	chips	chip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	appos	_	_
12	smothered	smother	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	sauce	sauce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | cover, thickly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **smother** *in a quote* | participle |  | chips *not said here* |  |  |  | in sauce | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in sauce=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To smother someone with love is to give them too much attention so they feel trapped.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:m4:1
# text = To smother someone with love is to give them too much attention so they feel trapped.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	smother	smother	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	iobj	_	_
10	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
13	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
16	trapped	trap	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smother** | to-infinitive |  |  | someone |  |  | with love | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent someone=Destination with love=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  | them *= they* |  |  | give *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **trap** | participle | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put a lid on the pan to smother the fire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:x1:1
# text = Put a lid on the pan to smother the fire.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pan	pan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	smother	smother	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | a lid |  | the pan |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent lid=Theme on pan=Destination |
| 2 | **smother** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the fire |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme fire=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never put plastic bags near babies; they could smother them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:x2:1
# text = Never put plastic bags near babies; they could smother them.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	smother	smother	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | plastic bags |  | babies |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent bag=Theme near baby=Destination |
| 2 | **smother** | could | bags *= bag* | babies *= baby* |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme they=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pancakes were smothered in syrup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:x3:1
# text = The pancakes were smothered in syrup.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pancakes	pancake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	smothered	smother	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	syrup	syrup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smother** | past · passive |  | the pancakes |  |  |  | in syrup | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination in syrup=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rolling on the ground smothers flames on your clothes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:x4:1
# text = Rolling on the ground smothers flames on your clothes.
1	Rolling	roll	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	smothers	smother	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	flames	flame	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | gerund |  |  |  | the ground |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on ground=Trajectory |
| 2 | **smother** | present | Rolling | flames |  | your clothes |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme flame=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her parents smothered her with hugs when she came home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:x5:1
# text = Her parents smothered her with hugs when she came home.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	smothered	smother	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hugs	hug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	home	home	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smother** | past | Her parents |  | her *= she* |  |  | with hugs | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent she=Destination with hug=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | past | she |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snow smothered the garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:x6:1
# text = Snow smothered the garden.
1	Snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	smothered	smother	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smother** | past | Snow | the garden |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme garden=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then the Fairy threw her arms round the Princess’s neck, and nearly smothered her with kisses, saying:

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smother:x7:1
# text = Then the Fairy threw her arms round the Princess’s neck, and nearly smothered her with kisses, saying:
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Fairy	Fairy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	round	round	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Princess	Princess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	’s	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	smothered	smother	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
16	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	kisses	kiss	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | the Fairy | Fairy's arms |  |  | then | round the Princess's neck | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=Theme |
| 2 | **smother** | past | the Fairy *not said here* |  | Fairy |  |  | with kisses; nearly *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent she=Destination with kiss=Theme |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | the Fairy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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