smooth

smooth¹ W3 [smu:ð] adj comparative smoother superlative smoothest

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1¦(surface)¦

2¦(happening without problems)¦

3¦(movement)¦

4¦(person)¦

5¦(liquid mixture)¦

6¦(sound)¦

7¦(taste)¦

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[: Old English; Origin: smoth]

1.) ¦(SURFACE)¦

a smooth surface has no rough parts, lumps, or holes, especially in a way that is pleasant and attractive to touch

≠ ↑rough

▪ Her skin felt smooth and cool.

▪ a smooth pebble

▪ The stone steps had been worn smooth .

2.) ¦(HAPPENING WITHOUT PROBLEMS)¦

happening or operating successfully, without any problems

smooth running/operation

▪ Sarah is responsible for the smooth running of the sales department.

▪ The new government has promised a smooth transition of power.

→go smoothly at ↑smoothly

3.) ¦(MOVEMENT)¦ [only before noun]

with no sudden movements or changes of direction, especially in a way that is graceful or comfortable

▪ Swing the tennis racquet in one smooth motion.

▪ The jet made a smooth landing.

smooth flight/ride

(=a comfortable trip in an airplane or car)

▪ It wasn't a very smooth ride.

4.) ¦(PERSON)¦

someone who is smooth is polite, confident, and relaxed, but is often not sincere

▪ a smooth salesmen

▪ He was a smooth talker .

▪ George is a smooth operator (=someone who does things in a smooth way) .

5.) ¦(LIQUID MIXTURE)¦

a liquid mixture that is smooth has no big pieces in it

≠ ↑lumpy

▪ Beat the eggs and flour until they are smooth.

6.) ¦(SOUND)¦

a voice or music that is smooth is soft and pleasant to listen to

▪ smooth jazz

▪ He has one of those silky smooth (=very smooth) voices.

7.) ¦(TASTE)¦

a drink such as wine, coffee, ↑whisky, or beer that is smooth is not bitter but tastes pleasant

▪ a smooth full-bodied wine

>smoothness n [U]

▪ the smoothness of his skin

→↑smooth-talking

smooth ²

smooth² v [T]

1.) to make something such as cloth or hair flat by moving your hands across it

▪ Liz smoothed her skirt and sat down.

smooth sth back/down

▪ She smoothed back her hair.

2.) also smooth down

to make a rough surface flat and even

▪ The wood was smoothed and trimmed to size.

▪ Smooth down all the surfaces before you start painting.

3.) [always + adverb/preposition]

to rub a liquid, cream etc gently over a surface or into a surface

smooth sth into/over sth

▪ She smoothed suntan lotion over her legs.

4.) smooth the way/path for sth

to make it easier for something to happen, by dealing with any problems first

▪ Staff helped smooth the way for the new administration.

smooth away [smooth sth<=>away] phr v

to get rid of problems or difficulties

▪ A few objections have to be smoothed away before we can start the project.

smooth out [smooth sth<=>out] phr v

1.) to make something such as paper or cloth flat by moving your hands across it

▪ They smoothed out the map on the table.

▪ Smooth out all the wrinkles.

2.) to make something happen in an even, regular way

▪ Sometimes central banks intervene to smooth out price fluctuations.

3.) to get rid of problems or difficulties

smooth over [smooth sth<=>over] phr v

if you smooth over problems, difficulties etc, you make them seem less serious and easier to control, especially by talking to the people who are involved in the problem

▪ Sally managed to smooth over the bad feelings between them.