suffocate

Universal Words verb 1 to die because there is no air to breathe; to kill sb by not letting them breathe air: [V] Many dogs have suffocated in hot cars. * [VN] The couple were suffocated by fumes from a faulty gas fire. * He put the pillow over her face and suffocated her. * (figurative) She felt suffocated by all the rules and regulations. 2 [V] (be suffocating) if it is suffocating, it is very hot and there is little fresh air: Can I open a window? It's suffocating in here! suffocation noun [U]: to die from / of suffocation