stifle
/'staifl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To suffocate; to kill by preventing access to air or oxygen: "stifle" means to cause someone to die or be unable to breathe due to a lack of air.
- To suppress or restrain something forcefully: "stifle" means to prevent something from being expressed, heard, or continuing.
- To make something difficult or impossible to breathe in: "stifle" can describe an atmosphere or condition that feels oppressive and lacking in fresh air.
Noun:
- The joint in the hind leg of a quadruped, corresponding to the human knee: In veterinary anatomy, "stifle" refers specifically to this joint in animals like horses or dogs.
Usage Examples
- Verb (Suffocate):
- The thick smoke in the room began to stifle the trapped firefighters.
- She felt the heavy blanket would stifle the infant if left unattended.
- Verb (Suppress/Restrain):
- The government tried to stifle all criticism of its new policy.
- He had to stifle a laugh during the serious meeting.
- Verb (Oppressive Atmosphere):
- The stifling heat of the desert made it hard to travel during the day.
- Noun (Animal Anatomy):
- The veterinarian examined the dog's injured stifle.
- A common injury in racehorses is a torn ligament in the stifle joint.
Advanced Usage
- "to stifle innovation/creativity": to prevent new ideas or creative expression from developing.
- A rigid corporate culture can stifle innovation and drive away talented employees.
- "a stifling silence": an extremely quiet and tense atmosphere that feels oppressive.
- A stifling silence fell over the courtroom as the jury returned.
Variants and Related Words
- Stifling (adj): describing something that feels suffocating, oppressive, or unbearably close.
- The stifling humidity made everyone irritable.
- Stifler (n): a person or thing that stifles. (This form is less common).
Synonyms
- Verb (Suffocate): Smother, asphyxiate, choke.
- Verb (Suppress): Repress, quell, muzzle, curb, restrain.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
- "Stifle back": to forcefully hold back or suppress an emotion or reaction.
- She stifled back her tears as she said goodbye.
Related Idioms
- "To be in a stifling environment": to be in a place or situation that feels oppressive and restricts freedom.
- Many artists left the country to escape the stifling environment of censorship.
Noun
- joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee
Verb
- be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen
- The child suffocated under the pillow
- impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of
- The foul air was slowly suffocating the children
- smother or suppress
- Stifle your curiosity
- conceal or hide
- smother a yawn
- muffle one's anger
- strangle a yawn