Verb

(stifl)

To interrupt or cut off.

To repress, keep in or hold back.

* Waterland

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

* , chapter=15

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cossack stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells.}}

* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 29, author=Neil Johnston, work=BBC Sport

, title= Norwich 3-3 Blackburn , passage=In fact, there was no suggestion of that, although Wolves deployed men behind the ball to stifle the league leaders in a first-half that proved very frustrating for City.}}

To smother or suffocate.

* (John Dryden)

Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies.

* (Jonathan Swift)

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

To feel smothered etc.

To die of suffocation.

To treat a silkworm cocoon with steam as part of the process of silk production.

Verb

(en verb)

To open the mouth widely and take a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired and sometimes accompanied by pandiculation.

I could see my students yawning , so I knew the lesson was boring them.

* Trumbull

And while above he spends his breath, / The yawning audience nod beneath.

To present a wide opening.

The canyon yawns as it has done for millions of years, and we stand looking, dumbstruck.

Death yawned before us, and I hit the brakes.

* Shakespeare

'Tis now the very witching time of night, / When churchyards yawn .

To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.

(Shakespeare)

To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning.

to yawn for fat livings

* Landor

one long, yawning gaze