stifle
/ˈstaɪfəl/
noun
Meaning
A hind knee of various mammals, especially horses.
A bone disease of this region.
verb
Meaning
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 the children."
To feel smothered etc.
"The heat felt stifling."
To die of suffocation.
"Two firemen tragically stifled in yesterday's fire when trying to rescue an old lady from her bedroom."
To treat a silkworm cocoon with steam as part of the process of silk production.
Synonyms