- pronunciation:
- suh
f
keIt
- features:
- Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
suffocates, suffocating, suffocated |
| definition 1: |
to kill by not allowing to breathe; smother.
You will suffocate the fish if you do not poke holes in the lid of the jar.- similar words:
- smother
|
| definition 2: |
to die from lack of air.
The animals suffocated in the smoke from the fire.- similar words:
- smother
|
| definition 3: |
to be kept from breathing easily or from cool fresh air.
I nearly suffocated on that hot, crowded bus.- similar words:
- choke
|
| derivations: |
suffocative (adj.), suffocatingly (adv.), suffocation (n.) |
The word suffocate
contains the following part:
suf-
Latin
prefix
that means
under, below
More about this word part:
The prefix
suf-
occurs in Latin loanwords. It is an assimilated form of
sub- used before roots beginning with "f," such as "fus" and "fix." See
sub-.
Example words: