smooth en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree Old English smōþ Middle English smothe Proto-West Germanic *smanþī Old English smēþe Middle English smethe English smooth From Middle English smothe, smethe, from Old English smēþe, smōþ, both from Proto-West Germanic *smanþī, of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots smuith (“smooth”), Saterland Frisian smoud (“smooth”), Low German smood and smödig (“smooth, malleable, ductile”), Dutch smeuïg (“smooth”) (from earlier smeudig).
Meanings
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Having a texture that lacks friction. Not rough.
“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,[…].
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:Teaching that’s done by talking seems to have one rough path and another part which is smoother.
2005, Lesley Brown, Sophist, translation of original by Plato, page 229e:Smooth and slender and naked, Mary Rittersdorf faced her husband.
1964, Philip K. Dick, “THIRTEEN”, in Clans of the Alphane Moon, United States: Ace Books, →OCLC; republished London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1996, →ISBN, page 193:The outlines must be smooth, […]imperceptible to the touch, and even, without eminence or cavities.
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:
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Without difficulty, problems, or unexpected consequences or incidents.
The path to approval has been bumpiest in Washington, where Democrats in Congress have raised concerns over Mexico’s enforcement of labor rights and environmental law — and smoothest in Mexico, where the president has described the accord as a guarantee of stability for his country’s economy.
2019 June 19, Elisabeth Malkin and Ana Swanson, “Mexico Ratifies Trade Deal With the U.S. and Canada”, in The New York Times:England's path to Poland and Ukraine next summer looked to be a smooth one as goals from Ashley Young and Darren Bent gave them a comfortable lead after 31 minutes.
2011, Phil McNulty, “Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England”, in BBC:We hope for a smooth transition to the new system.
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Bland; glib.
This feeling, grounded on the experience of centuries of oppression, was not to be allayed by smooth explanations on the part of the advocates of the Constitution.
1912, Gustavus Myers, History of the Supreme Court of the United States, page 133:This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft / Conceal a traitor.
1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
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Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or hesitation; not harsh; fluent.
VVhen bright Minerva roſe, / From her ſvveet Lips ſmooth Elocution flovvs, […]
1713 (indicated as 1714), [John] Gay, “Book III”, in The Fan. A Poem. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 23:VValler vvas ſmooth; but Dryden taught to join / The varying verſe, the full reſounding line, / The long majetſic march, and energy divine.
1737, [Alexander Pope], The First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace, Imitated, London: […] T. Cooper, […], →OCLC, page 16:the only smooth poet of those times
1670, John Milton, The History of Britain:
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Suave; sophisticated.
He was so smooth and handsome. He knew just what to say and when to say it.
2003, T. Lewis Humphrey, The Price of Love, →ISBN, page 279:
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(of an action) Natural; unconstrained.
In order for a reading to be smooth and effortless, readers must be able to recognize and read words accurately, automatically, and quickly.
2006, Mary Kay Moskal, Camille Blachowicz, Reading for Fluency, →ISBN, page 3:
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(of a motion) Unbroken.
Demonstrate first by the numbers and then as one smooth movement.
1927, United States National Guard Bureau, Manual of Basic Training and Standards of Proficiency for the National Guard, page 181:
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(of water) Placid, calm.
As we worked to the southward, we picked up fair weather, and enjoyed smooth seas and pleasant skies.
1898, John Donaldson Ford, An American Cruiser in the East, page 47:
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(of an edge) Lacking projections or indentations; not serrated.
A leaf having a smooth margin, without teeth or indentations of any kind, is called entire.
1994, Robert E. Swanson, A Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of the Southern Appalachians, →ISBN, page 8:Out of the handles flipped the smooth blade and the serrated blade, which was dangerously sharp, the flathead screwdrivers, the Phillips screwdriver, the can opener, the awl.
1997, Christopher Dickey, Innocent Blood: A Novel, →ISBN, page 91:
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(of food or drink) Not grainy; having an even texture.
A compact and stylish design, it produces 1 generous quart of excellent, smooth ice cream in 20 to 25 minutes.
1997, Lou Seibert Pappas, Sorbets and Ice Creams, →ISBN, page 19:
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(of a beverage) Having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent.
The coffee was smooth, so smooth she took another sip.
2002, Candace Irvin, For His Eyes Only, →ISBN, page 9:
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(of a function) Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain.
Any ANALYTIC FUNCTION is smooth. But a smooth function is not necessarily analytic.
2003, Eric W. Weisstein, CRC Concise Encyclopedia of Mathematics, →ISBN, page 419:
- (of a number) That factors completely into small prime numbers.
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(of a vowel) Lacking marked aspiration.
Οὐ becomes οὐκ before a smooth vowel, and οὐχ before an aspirate.
1830, Benjamin Franklin Fisk, A Grammar of the Greek Language, page 5:
- (of muscles) Involuntary and non-striated.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| smoother | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| smoothe | alternative, archaic, verb | lexicographic | |
| smeeth | alternative, dialectal | lexicographic | |
| smoothest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
coarse · rough · bumpy · textured · uneven
Deriveds
resmooth · smooth-running · smooth-faced · smoothbored · silky smooth · smooth as oil · smoothness · smoothable · smooth cordgrass · smooth snake · nanosmooth · supersmooth · smooth mudalia · smoothen · smooth-haired · nonsmooth · smooth hydrangea · smooth sole · nonsmoothness · smooth breathing · smooth operator · smoothskin · smooth muscle · the course of true love never did run smooth · smooth number · smoothifier · smooth shark · smooth tare · smooth talking · smooth fox terrier · smooth leatherjacket · smoothsort · presmooth · take the rough with the smooth · smoothwire · smooth function · smooth bedstraw · semismooth · smooth as butter · a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor · smooth handfish · smooth as a baby's bum · smooth-shaven · smoothish · smooth clam · smooth manifold · smoothstep · smooth azalea · smooth-tongued · smooth-spoken · smooth collie · smooth as silk · ultrasmooth · smooth sailing · smoothbark · smoothy · unsmooth · smooth-brained · smooth hound · smooth green snake · smooth as a baby's bottom · smoothtongue · smooth newt · oversmooth · smooth alder · smoothbelly · smooth rocksnail · smooth brome · smooth jazz · smoothie · smoothify · smooth loofah · besmooth · smoothhead · smooth brain · smooth talker · smooth as eggs · smooth talk · piecewise smooth · smoothly · buttery smooth · smooth vetch · outsmooth · smooth call · smoothbore
Holonyms
glabrous · soft · polished · reflective · unwrinkled · still · slippery
Hyponyms
Relateds
smooth as silk · smooth as a baby's bottom · smooth as glass
Synonyms
silklike · fluid (without difficulty or problems) · velvety · downy · slight · silky · slick (without difficulty or problems) · frictionless · silken · velutinous · seamless · sleek · level · smooth · even (having a texture lacking friction) · flat · lanate
Translations (283)
cmn 光滑 (lacking friction, not rough) · cmn 光滑 (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · uk гладки́й (lacking friction, not rough) · sw laini (lacking friction, not rough) · be гла́дкі (lacking friction, not rough) · sw laini (placid, calm) · te నున్నటి (lacking friction, not rough) · mk не́пречен (motion: unbroken) · eve булдути (lacking friction, not rough) · de reibungslos (without difficulty) · ccc pya'sino (lacking friction, not rough) · fur lis (lacking friction, not rough) · el ομαλός (motion: unbroken) · mk пла́вен (action: natural; unconstrained) · mk ма́зен (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · it blando (bland; glib) · hu lekerekített (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · ru гла́дкий (without difficulty) · ko 매끄럽다 (lacking friction, not rough) · fr facile (without difficulty) · mi motuhenga (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · eo glata (lacking friction, not rough) · ro lin (lacking friction, not rough) · ro neted (lacking friction, not rough) · es tranquilo (placid, calm) · gl liso (lacking friction, not rough) · cu гладъкъ (lacking friction, not rough) · cy esmwyth (lacking friction, not rough) · nl fijn (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · fi pehmeä (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · cs hladký (lacking friction, not rough) · fi pehmeä (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · fi sujuva (without difficulty) · la glaber (lacking friction, not rough) · ga réidh (motion: unbroken) · enm smothe (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · nl vlot (without difficulty) · fr lisse (lacking friction, not rough) · vi trơn (lacking friction, not rough) · bg плавен (motion: unbroken) · el λείος (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · it dolce (without difficulty) · kmr hilû (lacking friction, not rough) · mww du (lacking friction, not rough) · nl glad (action: natural; unconstrained) · sv slät (lacking friction, not rough) · roa-tar lisse (lacking friction, not rough) · crh tegiz (lacking friction, not rough) · cmn 圓滑 /圆滑 (suave; sophisticated) · scn lisciu (lacking friction, not rough) · cmn 順利 /顺利 (without difficulty) · sv glatt (lacking friction, not rough) · bg плавен (action: natural; unconstrained) · es glaxo (lacking friction, not rough) · mk не́пречен (action: natural; unconstrained) · hu zökkenőmentes (without difficulty) · cmn 平穩 /平稳 (without difficulty) · sl gladek (lacking friction, not rough) · tr düz (lacking friction, not rough) · az hamar (lacking friction, not rough) · mk ма́зен (lacking friction, not rough) · cmn 平靜 /平静 (placid, calm) · rup ischiu (lacking friction, not rough) · fi sileä (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · it facile (without difficulty) · es sofisticado (suave; sophisticated) · bho चिकन (lacking friction, not rough) · sw laini (suave; sophisticated) · mi mō(w)ai (placid, calm) · it mellifluo (lacking friction, not rough) · nl fijn (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · su lemes (lacking friction, not rough) · fi tyyni (placid, calm) · mk о́дмерен (motion: unbroken) · pt suave (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · fa لیز (lacking friction, not rough) · enm smothe (placid, calm) · sw laini (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · es terso (lacking friction, not rough) · nl glad (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · sh glȁdak (lacking friction, not rough) · mi mohimohi (lacking friction, not rough) · da glat (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · ltg gludons (lacking friction, not rough) · et sile (lacking friction, not rough) · ru гла́дкий (lacking friction, not rough) · pl gładki (lacking friction, not rough) · ce шера (lacking friction, not rough) · el ομαλός (without difficulty) · id halus (lacking friction, not rough) · ja 滑らかな (lacking friction, not rough) · fi kitkaton (without difficulty) · pt liso (lacking friction, not rough) · mi monemone (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · gd sèimh (lacking friction, not rough) · ltg gluds (lacking friction, not rough) · mk о́дмерен (action: natural; unconstrained) · mi māeneene (lacking friction, not rough) · gd socrach (lacking friction, not rough) · inh шаьра (lacking friction, not rough) · ru пла́вный (motion: unbroken) · wym głōt (lacking friction, not rough) · gd tlàth (lacking friction, not rough) · ga mín (lacking friction, not rough) · el απαλός (lacking friction, not rough) · ka გლუვი (lacking friction, not rough) · mk пла́вен (motion: unbroken) · nl vlot (motion: unbroken) · fi sujuva (action: natural; unconstrained) · nl glad (lacking friction, not rough) · bg спокоен (placid, calm) · se livttis (lacking friction, not rough) · oc lis (lacking friction, not rough) · pro lis (lacking friction, not rough) · fr douce (linguistics, classical studies, of a vowel: lacking marked aspiration) · gun yxyĩ (lacking friction, not rough) · izh lakkia (lacking friction, not rough) · sv smidig (without difficulty) · mk ле́сен (without difficulty) · da glat (lacking friction, not rough) · enm smethe (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · fi sujuva (motion: unbroken) · sw laini (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · arz مالس (lacking friction, not rough) · rup duzi (lacking friction, not rough) · mi paparōnaki (motion: unbroken) · qu api (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · zea glad (lacking friction, not rough) · vec gałivo (lacking friction, not rough) · mi motuhēhē (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · dlm lois (lacking friction, not rough) · sw laini (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · ga séimh (bland; glib) · fi lipevä (bland; glib) · fr doux (without difficulty) · cs hladká (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · hi चिकना (lacking friction, not rough) · it soffice (without difficulty) · my ချော (lacking friction, not rough) · pt suave (action: natural; unconstrained) · fur vualîf (lacking friction, not rough) · ckb لووس (lacking friction, not rough) · mi newanewa (lacking friction, not rough) · mn гөлгөр (lacking friction, not rough) · lb glat (lacking friction, not rough) · el στρωτός (action: natural; unconstrained) · hu sima (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · ga caoin (lacking friction, not rough) · mdf вадря (lacking friction, not rough) · fr lisse (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · haw paheʻe (lacking friction, not rough) · ar نَاعِم (lacking friction, not rough) · de problemlos (without difficulty) · el ακύμαντος (placid, calm) · lv gluds (lacking friction, not rough) · it liscio (lacking friction, not rough) · th เรียบ (lacking friction, not rough) · mn дөлгөөн (placid, calm) · txb ṣmare (lacking friction, not rough) · mi moani (without difficulty) · nl glad (placid, calm) · cmn 流暢 /流畅 (action: natural; unconstrained) · fi sulava (motion: unbroken) · mk спо́коен (placid, calm) · ja スムース (without difficulty) · fi sileä (lacking friction, not rough) · nl glad (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · enm smothe (lacking friction, not rough) · enm smethe (lacking friction, not rough) · hy հարթ (lacking friction, not rough) · hy ողորկ (lacking friction, not rough) · am ለስላሳ (lacking friction, not rough) · gd mìn (lacking friction, not rough) · de glatt (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · cho halʋsbi (lacking friction, not rough) · nv dilkǫǫh (lacking friction, not rough) · mk сми́рен (placid, calm) · de glatt (bland; glib) · fr lisse (bland; glib) · uk пла́вний (motion: unbroken) · la lēvis (lacking friction, not rough) · es constante (motion: unbroken) · sw laini (motion: unbroken) · grc λίσπος (bland; glib) · ga réidh (action: natural; unconstrained) · cs hladký (without difficulty) · de glatt (lacking friction, not rough) · tr pürüzsüz (lacking friction, not rough) · su lemes (linguistics, classical studies, of a vowel: lacking marked aspiration) · haw ʻōmolemole (lacking friction, not rough) · el γλυκόπιοτος (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · arz ناعم (lacking friction, not rough) · fi pehmeä (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · es apacible (placid, calm) · rm glisch (lacking friction, not rough) · de glatt (without difficulty) · kk тегіс (lacking friction, not rough) · cmn 流暢 /流畅 (motion: unbroken) · id mulus (lacking friction, not rough) · hu finom (suave; sophisticated) · ga réidh (without difficulty) · bg гла́дък (lacking friction, not rough) · mk ма́зен (without difficulty) · es suave (lacking friction, not rough) · mi mōhanihani (lacking friction, not rough) · is sléttur (lacking friction, not rough) · fi tasainen (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · fr régulier (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · el ήπιος (bland; glib) · la teres (lacking friction, not rough) · es suave (mathematics, of a function: Having derivatives of all finite orders at all points within the function’s domain) · nl glad (bland; glib) · fr sophistiqué (suave; sophisticated) · sv jämn (lacking friction, not rough) · cmn 平滑 (lacking friction, not rough) · ga séimh (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · hsb hładki (lacking friction, not rough) · sw laini (bland; glib) · csb głôdczi (lacking friction, not rough) · cmn 自然 (action: natural; unconstrained) · nl vlot (suave; sophisticated) · yi גלאַט (lacking friction, not rough) · ang smēþe (lacking friction, not rough) · sk hladký (lacking friction, not rough) · kix tǖlīnglīng (lacking friction, not rough) · pt suave (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · es suave (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · mn тэгш (lacking friction, not rough) · hu sima (lacking friction, not rough) · sh гла̏дак (lacking friction, not rough) · bg мек (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · vi mượt (lacking friction, not rough) · pt suave (without difficulty) · mk гла́док (lacking friction, not rough) · ms licin (lacking friction, not rough) · sw laini (linguistics, classical studies, of a vowel: lacking marked aspiration) · rup buimatcu (lacking friction, not rough) · sw laini (action: natural; unconstrained) · sw laini (without difficulty) · chr ᎤᏩᎾᏕᏍᎩ (lacking friction, not rough) · kmr lûs (lacking friction, not rough) · ty hinuhinu (lacking friction, not rough) · nl glad (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · fr naturel (action: natural; unconstrained) · el λείος (lacking friction, not rough) · nl zacht (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · sw laini (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · io glata (lacking friction, not rough) · tl makinis (lacking friction, not rough) · grc λεῖος (lacking friction, not rough) · sv hal (lacking friction, not rough) · es liso (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · mi koutata (lacking friction, not rough) · hu folytonos (motion: unbroken) · fi ilman henkäystä (linguistics, classical studies, of a vowel: lacking marked aspiration) · he חָלָק (lacking friction, not rough) · uz tekis (lacking friction, not rough) · ga séimh (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · vo smufik (lacking friction, not rough) · fi sulava (suave; sophisticated) · ar أَمْلَس (lacking friction, not rough) · mi mākohakoha (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · dsb gładki (lacking friction, not rough) · ca llis (lacking friction, not rough) · nl glad (suave; sophisticated) · fr souple (motion: unbroken) · bg гладък (without difficulty) · el γλυκομίλητος (suave; sophisticated) · mk мек (beverage: having a pleasantly rounded flavor; neither rough nor astringent) · es liso (lacking friction, not rough) · pt liso (edge: lacking projections or indentations; not serrated) · bg гладък (food or drink: not grainy; having an even texture) · grc λισσός (lacking friction, not rough) · pt suave (bland; glib) · got 𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃 (lacking friction, not rough) · tr kibar (suave; sophisticated) · cy llyfn (lacking friction, not rough) · az rəvan (lacking friction, not rough) · ro lis (lacking friction, not rough) · ast llisu (lacking friction, not rough) · sv len (lacking friction, not rough) · vec guałivo (lacking friction, not rough) · pam malinatnat (lacking friction, not rough)