Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Stifle \Sti"fle\, v. i.
   To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because
   some noxious substance prevents respiration.

         You shall stifle in your own report.     --Shak.

Stifle \Sti"fle\, n. [From {Stiff}.] (Far.)
   The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the
   hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint
   corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also {stifle
   joint}. See Illust. under {Horse}.

   {Stifle bone}, a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella,
      or kneepan.

Stifle \Sti"fle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stifled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Stifling}.] [Freq. of OE. stif stiff; cf. Icel. st[=i]fla to
   dam up.]
   1. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the
      windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into
      the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of
      by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.

            Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies.
                                                  --Dryden.

            I took my leave, being half stifled with the
            closeness of the room.                --Swift.

   2. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to
      stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame.

            Bodies . . . stifle in themselves the rays which
            they do not reflect or transmit.      --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.

   3. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to
      conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to
      stifle passion.

            I desire only to have things fairly represented as
            they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled.
                                                  --Waterland.

Source : WordNet®

stifle
     n : joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped;
         corresponds to the human knee [syn: {knee}]

stifle
     v 1: conceal or hide; "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger";
          "strangle a yawn" [syn: {smother}, {strangle}, {muffle},
           {repress}]
     2: smother or suppress; "Stifle your curiosity" [syn: {dampen}]
        [ant: {stimulate}]
     3: impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of;
        "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children" [syn: {suffocate},
         {asphyxiate}, {choke}]
     4: be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen; "The child
        suffocated under the pillow" [syn: {suffocate}, {asphyxiate}]