stiflesti‧fle /ˈstaɪfəl/ verb 
rules and regulations that stifle innovation How can this party stifle debate on such a crucial issue?2[transitive] to stop a feeling from being expressed: He stifled an urge to hit her.stifle a yawn/smile/grin etc I tried to stifle my laughter.3[intransitive, transitive] if you are stifled by something, it stops you breathing comfortably: He was almost stifled by the fumes. I felt like I was stifling in the humid air.GRAMMAR Stifle is usually passive in this meaning, when used as a transitive verb.
WORD ORIGINstifle
Origin:
1300-1400 Probably from Old French estouffer ‘to stifle’VERB TABLE
stifle
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | stifle |
| he, she, it | stifles | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | stifled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have stifled |
| he, she, it | has stifled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had stifled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will stifle |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have stifled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am stifling |
| he, she, it | is stifling | |
| you, we, they | are stifling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was stifling |
| you, we, they | were stifling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been stifling |
| he, she, it | has been stifling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been stifling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be stifling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been stifling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Maria looked away and stifled a giggle.
- Martial law continues to stifle political debate in the country.
- She stifled a yawn as the boss read out the sales figures.
- She stifled the urge to scream.
- Apparently satisfied, the man leaned back, stifling a choking, coughing fit.
- Indications of tangible progress in the late 1930s were stifled by the constraints of war.
- One wonders whether that overt gesture really was meant to stifle covert action.
- Outside the wintry sunlight had been stifled by cloud and Blanche saw pedestrians begin to walk past with glistening umbrellas.
- She leapt to her feet with a cry which was instantly stifled by a mouthful of insects.
Longman Language Activatorto stop yourself from having or showing a feeling
to try hard to stop yourself laughing, crying, or showing anger: hold back something: · Jack held back his tears and pretended not to be disappointed.· Sarah held back a sob of relief.hold something back: · I wanted to laugh, but I managed to hold it back.· She struggled to hold her feelings back.
: stifle a yawn/a smile/laughter etc to try to stop yourself showing that you are tired, amused etc especially because you do not want to seem rude: · She stifled a yawn as the boss read out the sales figures.· Maria looked away and stifled a giggle.
written to make a strong effort to stop yourself from showing feelings of anger, sadness etc: · I suppressed an urge to laugh.· He looked at me, waiting with suppressed anger.· It's not good to suppress your feelings.
to manage to stop feeling something that affects you very strongly, for example fear, pain etc: · She managed to overcome her shyness, and stepped forward to introduce herself.· Hilton stepped into the room, fighting to conquer his feelings of disgust.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He stifled an urge to hit her. I tried to stifle my laughter.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Kay shook her head and stifled a yawn (=tried to stop yawning).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1[transitive] to stop something from happening or developing OPP encourage: He stifled an urge to hit her. I tried to stifle my laughter. (=that stops before it is finished)· The girl gave a stifled cry of disappointment.
(=prevent people from having a debate)· How can the party stifle debate on such an important issue?
(=try to not laugh)· Britta covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
(=extreme heat)· The desert is a place of scorching heat by day and bitter cold by night.
(=used about weather that is very hot and uncomfortable) The office gets unbearably hot in summer.
The office gets unbearably hot in summer. (=made quieter, for example by putting a hand over someone’s mouth)· No one heard her muffled screams.
Kay shook her head and stifled a yawn (=tried to stop yawning).· Any attempt to stifle or fetter such criticism amounts to political censorship of the most insidious and objectionable kind.· University officials adamantly deny any attempt to stifle promotion of minorities.
· She loved everything about this man, and when he took her she tried to stifle the cry of pain.· Some one brusquely pulled the headscarf down over her face, stifling her cry, cutting off her vision.· We were well aware of him stifling cries of pain, but there was nothing for it but to proceed.· She bit her lower lip to stifle the cry in her throat and felt the goosepimples bristling across her skin.
· As he felt Joe begin fumbling with his trousers Michael stifled an urge to slam his fist into Joe's head.· She stifled an urge to brain her son with it, and instead placed it in the sink.· Jody stifles the urge to call a time-out and berate them.· Billy stifled the urge to laugh out loud.· But such policies could not stifle all urges to freedom.
· He sighs and stifles a yawn.· After feeding in the access code he sat back and stifled a yawn.· He stifled a yawn then stood up and went into the kitchen.· He apologises as he stifles another yawn and tries to look interested.
VERB· This is important because there are many interests which may try to stifle attempts to improve health care.· He is also considered to be far weaker than his half-brother and may make concessions to try to stifle dissent.· Nineteenth century tries to stifle doubts by crushing you with sheer bulk, he wrote.· She tried to stifle the insidious army of questions tentatively beginning to attack her.· She loved everything about this man, and when he took her she tried to stifle the cry of pain.· Hunt lay with his face to the floor, trying to stifle his own noise.
rules and regulations that stifle innovation How can this party stifle debate on such a crucial issue?2[transitive] to stop a feeling from being expressed: He stifled an urge to hit her.stifle a yawn/smile/grin etc I tried to stifle my laughter.3[intransitive, transitive] if you are stifled by something, it stops you breathing comfortably: He was almost stifled by the fumes. I felt like I was stifling in the humid air.GRAMMAR Stifle is usually passive in this meaning, when used as a transitive verb.