smooth
Etymology

From Middle English smothe, smethe, from Old English smēþe, smōþ, both from Proto-West Germanic *smanþī, of unknown origin.

Pronunciation Adjective

smooth (comparative smoother, superlative smoothest)

  1. Having a texture that lacks friction. Not rough.
    • 1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, […], London: […] J[ohn] Heptinstall for W. Rogers, […], →OCLC ↗:
      The outlines must be smooth, […] imperceptible to the touch, and even, without eminence or cavities.
    • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC ↗:
      “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, […].
  2. Without difficulty, problems, or unexpected consequences or incidents.
    We hope for a smooth transition to the new system.
  3. Bland; glib.
    • 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC ↗, (please specify the page):
      This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft / Conceal a traitor.
  4. Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or hesitation; not harsh; fluent.
    • 1670, John Milton, The History of Britain:
      the only smooth poet of those times
    • 1737, [Alexander Pope], The First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace, Imitated, London: […] T. Cooper, […], →OCLC ↗, page 16 ↗:
      VValler vvas ſmooth; but Dryden taught to join / The varying verſe, the full reſounding line, / The long majetſic march, and energy divine.
    • 1713 (indicated as 1714), [John] Gay, “Book III”, in The Fan. A Poem. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗, page 23 ↗:
      VVhen bright Minerva roſe, / From her ſvveet Lips ſmooth Elocution flovvs, […]
  5. Suave; sophisticated.
  6. (of an action) Natural; unconstrained.
  7. (of a motion) Unbroken.
  8. (chiefly, of water) Placid, calm.
  9. (of an edge) Lacking projections or indentations; not serrated.
  10. (of food or drink) Not grainy; having an even texture.
  11. (of a beverage) Having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent.
  12. (mathematics, of a function) Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain.
  13. (math, of a number) That factors completely into small prime numbers.
  14. (linguistics, classical studies, of a vowel) Lacking marked aspiration.
  15. (of muscles, medicine) Involuntary and non-striated.
Synonyms
  • (having a texture lacking friction) even
  • (without difficulty or problems) fluid
Antonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Adverb

smooth (comparative smoother, superlative smoothest)

  1. Smoothly.
    • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:
      Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.
Noun

smooth (plural smooths)

  1. Something that is smooth, or that goes smoothly and easily.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Genesis 27:16 ↗:
      The smooth of his neck.
    • 1861 January – 1862 August, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, The Adventures of Philip on His Way through the World; […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1862, →OCLC ↗:
      I think you and I will take the ups and the downs , the roughs and the smooths of this daily existence and conversation
  2. A smoothing action.
  3. A domestic animal having a smooth coat.
  4. A member of an anti-hippie fashion movement in 1970s Britain.
  5. (statistics) The analysis obtained through a smoothing procedure.
Verb

smooth (smooths, present participle smoothing; simple past and past participle smoothed)

  1. (transitive) To make smooth or even.
    Synonyms: smoothen
  2. (transitive) To reduce to a particular shape or form by pressure; to press, to flatten.
    to smooth cloth with a smoothing iron
  3. (transitive) To make straightforward or easy.
    • 2007, Beth Kohn, Lonely Planet Venezuela, page 379:
      Caracas can be a tough place but the tremendously good-natured caraqueños smoothed my passage every step of the way.
  4. (transitive) To calm or palliate.
    to smooth a person's temper
  5. (statistics, image processing, digital audio) To capture important patterns in the data, while leaving out noise.
  6. (West Country) To stroke; especially to stroke an animal's fur.
    Can I smooth your cat?
Translations Translations


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