Word Study
smooth
CIDE DICTIONARY
smooth, a. [OE. smothe, smethe, AS. sm, sm, where smöde , smöe, smödig; of uncertain origin.].
- 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. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]"The outlines must be smooth, imperceptible to the touch, and even, without eminence or cavities." [1913 Webster]
- Evenly spread or arranged; sleek; as, smooth hair. [1913 Webster]
- Gently flowing; moving equably; not ruffled or obstructed; as, a smooth stream. [1913 Webster]
- Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or hesitation; not harsh; voluble; even; fluent. [1913 Webster]"The only smooth poet of those times." [1913 Webster]"Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join
The varying verse, the full-resounding line." [1913 Webster]"When sage Minerva rose,
From her sweet lips smooth elocution flows." [1913 Webster] - Bland; mild; smoothing; fattering. [1913 Webster]"This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft
Conceal a traitor." [1913 Webster] - Causing no resistance to a body sliding along its surface; frictionless. [1913 Webster]" 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." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- Even; plain; level; flat; polished; glossy; sleek; soft; bland; mild; soothing; voluble; flattering; adulatory; deceptive.
smooth, adv.
Smoothly. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
"Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep." [1913 Webster]
smooth, n.
- The act of making smooth; a stroke which smooths. Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
- That which is smooth; the smooth part of anything. Gen. xxvii. 16. [1913 Webster]
smooth, v. t. [OE. smothen, smethen, AS. sm; cf. LG. smöden. See Smooth, a. ].
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. [1913 Webster]
"Thou, Abelard! the last sad office pay,
And smooth my passage to the realms of day." [1913 Webster]
And smooth my passage to the realms of day." [1913 Webster]
"In their motions harmony divine
So smooths her charming tones that God's own ear
Listens delighted." [1913 Webster]
So smooths her charming tones that God's own ear
Listens delighted." [1913 Webster]
"Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm." [1913 Webster]
smooth, v. i.
To flatter; to use blandishment. [1913 Webster]
"Because I can not flatter and speak fair,
Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog." [1913 Webster]
Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
smooth, adj., v., n., & adv.
--adj.
1 having a relatively even and regular surface; free from perceptible projections, lumps, indentations, and roughness.
2 not wrinkled, pitted, scored, or hairy (smooth skin).
3 that can be traversed without check.
4 (of liquids) of even consistency; without lumps (mix to a smooth paste).
5 (of the sea etc.) without waves or undulations.
6 (of a journey, passage, progress, etc.) untroubled by difficulties or adverse conditions.
7 having an easy flow or correct rhythm (smooth breathing; a smooth metre).
8 a not harsh in sound or taste. b (of wine etc.) not astringent.
9 (of a person, his or her manner, etc.) suave, conciliatory, flattering, unruffled, or polite (a smooth talker; he's very smooth).
10 (of movement etc.) not suddenly varying; not jerky.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by out, down) make or become smooth.
2 (often foll. by out, down, over, away) a tr. reduce or get rid of (differences, faults, difficulties, etc.) in fact or appearance. b intr. (of difficulties etc.) diminish, become less obtrusive (it will all smooth over).
3 tr. modify (a graph, curve, etc.) so as to lessen irregularities.
4 tr. free from impediments or discomfort (smooth the way; smooth the declining years).
--n.
1 a smoothing touch or stroke (gave his hair a smooth).
2 the easy part of life (take the rough with the smooth).
--adv. smoothly (the course of true love never did run smooth).
--adj.
1 having a relatively even and regular surface; free from perceptible projections, lumps, indentations, and roughness.
2 not wrinkled, pitted, scored, or hairy (smooth skin).
3 that can be traversed without check.
4 (of liquids) of even consistency; without lumps (mix to a smooth paste).
5 (of the sea etc.) without waves or undulations.
6 (of a journey, passage, progress, etc.) untroubled by difficulties or adverse conditions.
7 having an easy flow or correct rhythm (smooth breathing; a smooth metre).
8 a not harsh in sound or taste. b (of wine etc.) not astringent.
9 (of a person, his or her manner, etc.) suave, conciliatory, flattering, unruffled, or polite (a smooth talker; he's very smooth).
10 (of movement etc.) not suddenly varying; not jerky.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by out, down) make or become smooth.
2 (often foll. by out, down, over, away) a tr. reduce or get rid of (differences, faults, difficulties, etc.) in fact or appearance. b intr. (of difficulties etc.) diminish, become less obtrusive (it will all smooth over).
3 tr. modify (a graph, curve, etc.) so as to lessen irregularities.
4 tr. free from impediments or discomfort (smooth the way; smooth the declining years).
--n.
1 a smoothing touch or stroke (gave his hair a smooth).
2 the easy part of life (take the rough with the smooth).
--adv. smoothly (the course of true love never did run smooth).
Idiom
in smooth water having passed obstacles or difficulties. smooth-bore a gun with an unrifled barrel. smooth-faced hypocritically friendly. smoothing-iron hist. a flat-iron. smoothing-plane a small plane for finishing the planing of wood. smooth muscle a muscle without striations, usu. occurring in hollow organs and performing involuntary functions. smooth talk colloq. bland specious language. smooth-talk v.tr. address or persuade with this. smooth-tongued insincerely flattering.
Derivative
smoothable adj. smoother n. smoothish adj. smoothly adv. smoothness n.
Etymology
OE smoth
THESAURUS
smooth
Ciceronian, Demosthenian, Demosthenic, Machiavellian, Machiavellic, Mickey Mouse, Tullian, accordant, acomous, acute, adipose, adulatory, agreeable, aid, align, alike, all jaw, allay, ameliorate, appease, arch, arrowlike, artful, articulate, articulated, assimilate to, assuage, astute, at rest, attenuate, attenuated, automatic, balance, balanced, bald, bald-headed, balmy, bare, beardless, believable, bland, blandishing, blarneying, blubbery, buff, burnish, burnished, buttery, butyraceous, cagey, cajoling, calender, calm, calm down, candid, canny, casual, catenated, ceaseless, chatty, chrismal, chrismatory, civilized, clean-shaven, clear, clear the way, clever, cloistered, coarsen, communicative, compose, concatenated, conciliate, concinnate, concinnous, connected, conniving, consistent, consonant, constant, continual, continued, continuing, continuous, correspondent, courteous, courtierly, courtly, cradle, crafty, credible, cunning, cursive, cushy, cute, cyclical, dab, dainty, damp, dead straight, deceitful, deep, deep-laid, defuse, delicate, depilated, depilous, designing, diplomatic, direct, disarming, disentangle, downy, drag, dress, dub, dulcet, dulcify, dwindling, ease, easy, easy as pie, ebbing, effortless, effusive, elegant, eloquent, endless, equable, equal, equalize, equilibrize, euphonic, euphonical, euphonious, even, even out, even-tenored, expansive, expedite, explain, extend, facile, facilitate, facund, faint, fair-spoken, fat, fatty, fawning, featureless, felicitous, feline, fell, filmy, fine, fine-drawn, fine-grained, fine-spoken, finespun, flat, flatly, flatten, flattened, flattering, flip, flowing, fluent, fluffy, flush, foxy, frank, free, fulsome, furbish, fuzzy, gabby, gapless, garrulous, gassy, gauzy, gentle, glabrate, glabrescent, glabrous, glassy, glib, gloss over, glossy, gossamer, gossamery, gossipy, graceful, grade, grain, granulate, grease, grease the ways, grease the wheels, greasy, gregarious, guileful, gushing, gushy, hairless, halcyon, harmonious, harmonize, harrow, hasten, help along, homaloidal, homogeneous, homogenize, honey-mouthed, honey-tongued, honeyed, horizontal, hush, hushed, immediate, immutable, impassive, in a line, incessant, ingenious, ingratiating, insidious, insincere, insinuating, interminable, invariable, inventive, iron, isolated, joined, jointless, knowing, lardaceous, lardy, lay, lay down, lay flat, lay level, lay low, lay out, lay the dust, leiotrichous, lenient, lessen, level, light, lineal, linear, linked, long-winded, loose, loquacious, lubricate, lull, make clear, make uniform, make way for, mangle, mealymouthed, measured, mechanical, mellow, methodic, mild, minimize, mitigate, moldering, mollify, monolithic, monotonous, mow, mucoid, multiloquent, multiloquious, naked, never-ending, newsy, nonchalant, nonstop, normalize, nothing to it, obsequious, of a piece, oil, oily, oily-tongued, oleaginous, oleic, open, open the way, open up, ordered, orderly, overtalkative, pacific, pacify, painless, palliate, pave, pave the way, pawky, peaceable, peaceful, perennial, perfect, periodic, persistent, persuasive, placate, placid, plain, plane, planish, plaster, plausible, pleasant, pleasing, polish, polished, polite, politic, pour balm into, pour balm on, prepare, prepare the way, press, prime, prolix, propitiate, pubescent, put straight, quell, quicken, quiescent, quiet, rase, raze, ready, rectify, rectilineal, rectilinear, recurrent, reduce, refine, refined, regular, regularize, regulate, remove friction, repetitive, reposeful, reposing, resourceful, rest, restful, resting, rich, right, robotlike, rock, rock to sleep, roll, roll flat, rolled, roughen, round, round-the-clock, royal, rub up, ruler-straight, run interference for, running, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, satin, satiny, scheming, seamless, sebaceous, secluded, sequestered, sequestrated, serene, serpentine, serried, set straight, sharp, shave, shaven, sheltered, shifty, shine, shiny, shrewd, silken, silky, silver, silver-tongued, simple, simple as ABC, simplify, sit up, sleek, slick, slimy, slippery, slobbery, sly, smarmy, smooth down, smooth out, smooth over, smooth the way, smooth-faced, smooth-running, smooth-shaven, smooth-sounding, smooth-spoken, smooth-textured, smooth-tongued, smoothed out, smoothen, smoothened, smoothly, smug, snaky, sneaky, soap the ways, soapy, sociable, soft, soft-soaping, soft-spoken, soften, soignee, soothe, soothing, sophistical, speed, spellbinding, squashed, squashed flat, stabilize, stable, stand up, standardize, steadfast, steady, stealthy, steamroll, steamroller, stereotype, still, still as death, stillish, stilly, stoic, stolid, straight, straight-cut, straight-front, straight-side, straighten, straighten out, straighten up, straightforward, strategic, streamlined, suave, suave-spoken, subdue, subsiding, subtile, subtle, suety, supple, sweet, sycophantic, symmetrical, symmetrize, syrupy, systematic, tabloid, tabular, tactical, talkative, talky, tallowy, temper, thin-spun, tonsured, tooth, tranquil, tranquilize, trickish, tricksy, tricky, tripping, trodden, trodden flat, true, twenty-four-hour, unagitated, unbar, unbend, unbending, unbent, unblock, unbowed, unbroken, unburdensome, unceasing, unchangeable, unchanged, unchanging, unclog, uncluttered, uncomplicated, unconstrained, unctuous, uncurl, uncurved, undeflected, undeviating, undifferentiated, undistorted, undisturbed, undiversified, unending, uneventful, unguent, unguentary, unguentous, uniform, uniformize, uniformly, unintermitted, unintermittent, unintermitting, uninterrupted, unjam, unkink, unmoved, unobstructed, unperturbed, unrelieved, unremitting, unrough, unroughened, unruffled, unsnarl, unstirring, unstopped, unswerving, untroubled, untroublesome, unturned, unvaried, unvarying, upright, urbane, velutinous, velvety, verbose, vertical, voluble, vulpine, waning, wary, well-ordered, well-spoken, wheedling, wily, windy, winning, wiredrawnROGET THESAURUS
smooth
Uniformity
VB be uniform, accord with, run through, become uniform, conform to, render uniform, homogenize, assimilate, level, smooth, dress.Facility
VB be easy, go on smoothly, run smoothly, have full play, go on all fours, run on all fours, obey the helm, work well, flow with the stream, swim with the stream, drift with the stream, go with the stream, flow with the tide, drift with the tide, see one's way, have all one's own way, have the game in one's own hands, walk over the course, win at a canter, make light of, make nothing of, make no bones of, be at home in, make it look easy, do it with one's eyes closed, do it in one's sleep, render easy, facilitate, smooth, ease, popularize, lighten, lighten the labor, free, clear, disencumber, disembarrass, disentangle, disengage, deobstruct, unclog, extricate, unravel, untie the knot, cut the knot, disburden, unload, exonerate, emancipate, free from, deoppilate, humor, lubricate, relieve, leave a hole to creep out of, leave a loophole, leave the matter open, give the reins to, give full play, give full swing, make way for, open the door to, open the way, prepare the ground, smooth the ground, clear the ground, open the way, open the path, open the road, pave the way, bridge over, permit.N facility, ease, easiness, capability, feasibility, flexibility, pliancy, smoothness, plain sailing, smooth sailing, straight sailing, mere child's play, holiday task, cinch, smooth water, fair wind, smooth royal road, clear coast, clear stage, tabula rasa, full play, disencumbrance, disentanglement, deoppilation, permission, simplicity, lack of complication, easy, facile, feasible, easily managed, easily accomplished, within reach, accessible, easy of access, for the million, open to, manageable, wieldy, towardly, tractable, submissive, yielding, ductile, suant, pliant, glib, slippery, smooth, on friction wheels, on velvet, unembarrassed, disburdened, unburdened, disencumbered, unencumbered, disembarrassed, exonerated, unloaded, unobstructed, untrammeled, unrestrained, at ease, light, at home with, quite at home, in one's element, in smooth water, skillful, accustomed, easily, readily, smoothly, swimmingly, on easy terms, single-handed, touch and go.
Moderation
VB be moderate, keep within bounds, keep within compass, sober down, settle down, keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail, moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy, attemper, contemper, mollify, lenify, dulcify, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund, sheathe, subdue, chasten, sober down, tone down, smooth down, weaken, lessen, check palliate, tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off, slake, curb, tame, smooth over, pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters, pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin, go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove, be moderate, keep within bounds, keep within compass, sober down, settle down, keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail, moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy, attemper, contemper, mollify, lenify, dulcify, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund, sheathe, subdue, chasten, sober down, tone down, smooth down, weaken, lessen, check palliate, tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off, slake, curb, tame, smooth over, pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters, pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin, go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove.N moderation, lenity, temperateness, gentleness, sobriety, quiet, mental calmness, moderating, anaphrodisia, relaxation, remission, mitigation, tranquilization, assuagement, contemporation, pacification, measure, juste milieu, golden mean, ariston metron, moderator, lullaby, sedative, lenitive, demulcent, antispasmodic, carminative, laudanum, rose water, balm, poppy, opiate, anodyne, milk, opium, poppy or mandragora, wet blanket, palliative, moderate, lenient, gentle, mild, mellow, cool, sober, temperate, reasonable, measured, tempered, calm, unruffled, quiet, tranquil, still, slow, smooth, untroubled, tame, peaceful, peaceable, pacific, halcyon, unexciting, unirritating, soft, bland, oily, demulcent, lenitive, anodyne, hypnotic, sedative, antiorgastic, anaphrodisiac, mild as mother's milk, milk and water, moderately, gingerly, piano, under easy sail, at half speed, within bounds, within compass, in reason, est modue in rebus, pour oil on troubled waters.
Horizontality
N horizontality, flatness, level, plane, stratum, dead level, dead flat, level plane, recumbency, lying down, reclination, decumbence, decumbency, discumbency, proneness, accubation, supination, resupination, prostration, azimuth, plain, floor, platform, bowling green, cricket ground, croquet ground, croquet lawn, billiard table, terrace, estrade, esplanade, parterre, table land, plateau, ledge, butte, mesa (plain), level, spirit level, horizontal, level, even, plane, flat, flat as a billiard table, flat as a bowling green, alluvial, calm, calm as a mill pond, smooth, smooth as glass, recumbent, decumbent, procumbent, accumbent, lying, prone, supine, couchant, jacent, prostrate, recubant, horizontally, on one's back, on all fours, on its beam ends.Smoothness
VB smooth, smoothen, plane, file, mow, shave, level, roll, macadamize, polish, burnish, calender, glaze, iron, hot-press, mangle, lubricate.N smoothness, polish, gloss, lubricity, lubrication, down, velvet, velure, silk, satin, velveteen, velour, velours, velumen, glass, ice, slide, bowling green, asphalt, wood pavement, flagstone, flags, roller, steam roller, lawn roller, rolling pin, rolling mill, sand paper, emery paper, emery cloth, sander, flat iron, sad iron, burnisher, turpentine and beeswax, polish, shoe polish, lapidary, lapidary, lapidarian, smooth, polished, leiodermatous, slick, velutinous, even, level, plane, sleek, glossy, silken, silky, lanate, downy, velvety, glabrous, slippery, glassy, lubricous, oily, soft, unwrinkled, smooth as glass, smooth as ice, smooth as monumental alabaster, smooth as velvet, smooth as oil, slippery as an eel, woolly, smooth as silk, slippery as coonshit on a pump handle, slippery as a greased pig.
Flattery
N flattery, adulation, gloze, blandishment, blandiloquence, cajolery, fawning, wheedling, captation, coquetry, obsequiousness, sycophancy, flunkeyism, toadeating, tuft- hunting, snobbishness, incense, honeyed words, flummery, bunkum, buncombe, blarney, placebo, butter, soft soap, soft sawder, rose water, voice of the charmer, mouth honor, lip homage, euphemism, unctuousness, flattering, adulatory, mealy-mouthed, honey-mouthed, honeyed, smooth, smooth-tongued, soapy, oily, unctuous, blandiloquent, specious, fine-spoken, fair spoken, plausible, servile, sycophantic, fulsome, courtierly, courtier-like, ad captandum.Texture
N texture, structure (form), organization, anatomy, frame, mold, fabric, construction, framework, carcass, architecture, stratification, cleavage, substance, stuff, compages, parenchyma, constitution, staple, organism, organography, osteology, myology, splanchnology, neurology, angiography, adeology, angiography, adenography, texture, surface texture, intertexture, contexture, tissue, grain, web, surface, warp and woof, warp and weft, tooth, nap, flatness (smoothness), fineness of grain, coarseness of grain, dry goods, silk, satin, muslin, burlap, histology, structural, organic, anatomic, anatomical, textural, textile, fine grained, coarse grained, fine, delicate, subtile, gossamery, filmy, silky, satiny, coarse, homespun, rough, gritty, smooth, smooth as silk, smooth as satin.For further exploring for "smooth" in Webster Dictionary Online
