Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Smooth \Smooth\, v. i.
To flatter; to use blandishment.
Because I can not flatter and speak fair, Smile in
men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog. --Shak.
Smooth \Smooth\ (sm[=oo][th]), a. [Compar. {Smoother} (-[~e]r);
superl. {Smoothest}.] [OE. smothe, smethe, AS. sm[=e][eth]e,
sm[oe][eth]e, where [=e], [oe], come from an older [=o]; cf.
LG. sm["o]de, sm["o]e, sm["o]dig; of uncertain origin.]
1. 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.
The outlines must be smooth, imperceptible to the
touch, and even, without eminence or cavities.
--Dryden.
2. Evenly spread or arranged; sleek; as, smooth hair.
3. Gently flowing; moving equably; not ruffled or obstructed;
as, a smooth stream.
4. Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or
hesitation; not harsh; voluble; even; fluent.
The only smooth poet of those times. --Milton.
Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The
varying verse, the full-resounding line. --Pope.
When sage Minerva rose, From her sweet lips smooth
elocution flows. --Gay.
5. Bland; mild; smoothing; fattering.
This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft Conceal
a traitor. --Addison.
6. (Mech. & Physics) Causing no resistance to a body sliding
along its surface; frictionless.
Note: Smooth is often used in the formation of selfexplaining
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.
Syn: Even; plain; level; flat; polished; glossy; sleek; soft;
bland; mild; soothing; voluble; flattering; adulatory;
deceptive.
Smooth \Smooth\, adv.
Smoothly. --Chaucer.
Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep. --Shak.
Smooth \Smooth\, n.
1. The act of making smooth; a stroke which smooths.
--Thackeray.
2. That which is smooth; the smooth part of anything. ``The
smooth of his neck.'' --Gen. xxvii. 16.
Smooth \Smooth\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smoothed} (sm[=oo]thd); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Smoothing}.] [OE. smothen, smethen, AS.
sm[=e][eth]ian; cf. LG. sm["o]den. 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.
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. --Pope.
(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. --Milton.
(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.
--Milton.
(e) To ease; to regulate. --Dryden.
Source : WordNet®
smooth
adj 1: having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or
irregularities; "smooth skin"; "a smooth tabletop";
"smooth fabric"; "a smooth road"; "water as smooth as
a mirror" [ant: {rough}]
2: smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of
sophistication; "he was too politic to quarrel with so
important a personage"; "the hostess averted a
confrontation between two guests with a diplomatic change
of subject"; "the manager pacified the customer with a
smooth apology for the error"; "affable, suave, moderate
men...smugly convinced of their respectability" - Ezra
Pound [syn: {politic}, {suave}]
3: of the margin of a leaf shape; not broken up into teeth
[ant: {rough}]
4: not marked with wrinkles; "unwrinkled cheeks" [syn: {unwrinkled}]
5: smooth and unconstrained in movement; "a long, smooth
stride"; "the fluid motion of a cat"; "the liquid grace of
a ballerina"; "liquid prose" [syn: {flowing}, {fluent}, {fluid},
{liquid}]
6: without breaks between notes; smooth and connected; "a
legato passage" [syn: {legato}] [ant: {staccato}]
7: without chinks or crannies [syn: {uncrannied}] [ant: {crannied}]
8: lacking obstructions or difficulties; "the bill's path
through the legislature was smooth and orderly"
smooth
v 1: make smooth or smoother, as if by rubbing; "smooth the
surface of the wood" [syn: {smoothen}] [ant: {roughen}]
2: (of surfaces) make shine; "shine the silver, please";
"polish my shoes" [syn: {polish}, {smoothen}, {shine}]
3: free from obstructions; "smooth the way towards peace
negociations" [syn: {smooth out}]
smooth
n : the act of smoothing; "he gave his hair a quick smooth"