SMOOTH • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Smooth

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adjective

Smooth adj. (compar. smoother; superl. smoothest)

Having an even surface, or a surface so even that no roughness or points can be perceived by the touch; not rough; as, smooth glass; smooth porcelain. "The outlines must be smooth, imperceptible to the touch, and even, without eminence or cavities."

Evenly spread or arranged; sleek; as, smooth hair.

Gently flowing; moving equably; not ruffled or obstructed; as, a smooth stream.

Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or hesitation; not harsh; voluble; even; fluent. "The only smooth poet of those times." "Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full-resounding line." "When sage Minerva rose, From her sweet lips smooth elocution flows."

Bland; mild; smoothing; fattering. "This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft Conceal a traitor."

(Mech. & Physics) Causing no resistance to a body sliding along its surface; frictionless. Note: Smooth is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, smooth-bodied, smooth-browed, smooth-combed, smooth-faced, smooth-finished, smooth-gliding, smooth-grained, smooth-leaved, smooth-sliding, smooth-speaking, smooth-woven, and the like.

Synonyms: Even; plain; level; flat; polished; glossy; sleek; soft; bland; mild; soothing; voluble; flattering; adulatory; deceptive.

verb

Smooth v. t. (past & past part. smoothed; pres. part. smoothing) To make smooth; to make even on the surface by any means; as, to smooth a board with a plane; to smooth cloth with an iron. Specifically:

(a)

To free from obstruction; to make easy. "Thou, Abelard! the last sad office pay, And smooth my passage to the realms of day."

(b)

To free from harshness; to make flowing. "In their motions harmony divine So smooths her charming tones that God's own ear Listens delighted."

(c)

To palliate; to gloze; as, to smooth over a fault.

(d)

To give a smooth or calm appearance to. "Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm."

(e)

To ease; to regulate.

Smooth v. i. (past & past part. smoothed; pres. part. smoothing) To flatter; to use blandishment. "Because I can not flatter and speak fair, Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog."

noun

Smooth n.

The act of making smooth; a stroke which smooths.

That which is smooth; the smooth part of anything. "The smooth of his neck."

adverb

Smooth adv. Smoothly. "Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep."

See images of 'Smooth'

Etymology of 'Smooth'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Smooth" Quotes from Famous Books

... breeze seemed to revive her and we gently slipped by the Ragged Islands and Cape Mokkavik. That Sunday evening will long be remembered by us, for in addition to the delight we felt at again moving northward, and the charm of a bright evening with a gentle, fair wind and smooth water, allowing us to glide by hundreds of fulmar and shearwater sitting on the water, scarcely disturbed by our passage, the moon was paled by the brightest exhibition of the aurora we saw while in northern waters. Its sudden ...

— Bowdoin Boys in Labrador • Jonathan Prince (Jr.) Cilley

... third and greatest the Wikiri, by whom Pedro Hernandez de Serpa, before mentioned, was overthrown as he passed with 300 horse from Cumana towards Orenoque in his enterprise of Guiana. The fourth are called Aroras, and are as black as negroes, but have smooth hair; and these are very valiant, or rather desperate, people, and have the most strong poison on their arrows, and most dangerous, of all nations, of which I will speak somewhat, being a ...

— The Discovery of Guiana • Sir Walter Raleigh

... refastened her dress; put up her hands to her hair to smooth it, and tripped downstairs, full of expectation and hope. Maggie had relit the gas in the dining-room. Elma bounded ...

— Wild Kitty • L. T. Meade

... him for the first time. Now he thought he could understand why Red Springs and all it stood for was so removed and meaningless, was lost in the dim past. To Drew Rennie now, the squad, his round of duties, the army—these were home, not a brick house set in the midst of green fields and smooth paddocks. The house was empty of what he had found elsewhere—acceptance of Drew Rennie as a person in his own right, friendship, an occupation which answered the restlessness which had ridden him into rebellion. He stood staring at nothing as ...

— Ride Proud, Rebel! • Andre Alice Norton

... Shake it now and then, but do not stir it. Drain it, add a little milk in which a beaten egg has been mixed, one teaspoon of butter, and a little pepper and salt. Simmer for five minutes, and if the rice has not absorbed all the milk, drain it again. Put the rice around a dish, smooth it into a wall, wash it over with the yolk of a beaten egg, and put it into the oven until firm. Take the strained juice and pulp of seven or eight tomatoes, season with pepper, a little salt and sugar, and one-half of a chopped-up onion; ...

— Simple Italian Cookery • Antonia Isola

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