Verb
1. conceal or hide;
"smother a yawn""muffle one's anger""strangle a yawn"2. smother or suppress;
"Stifle your curiosity"3. impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of;
"The foul air was slowly suffocating the children"4. be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen;
"The child suffocated under the pillow"