Definition: smooth
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
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: (botany) 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: (music) 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"
n : the act of smoothing; "he gave is hair a quick 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]
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.
