suffocate

3 definitions • 3 examples

to (cause someone to) die because of not having enough oxygen:

The report said that the victims had suffocated in the fumes.

She suffocated him by holding a pillow over his head.

to prevent something or someone from improving or developing in a positive way

to die because of a lack of oxygen, or to kill someone by preventing that person from breathing:

[ I ] The government warned parents yesterday not to let infants sleep on small plastic pillows because the babies could suffocate.