Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of suffocating, choking, or stifling.
  • noun The condition of being suffocated, choked, or stifled.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act of suffocating, or the state of being suffocated; death caused by smothering or choking.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable Asphyxia—a condition in which an extreme decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the body accompanied by an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide leads to loss of consciousness or death.
  • noun countable A particular act of death or killing by means of asphyxia.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the condition of being deprived of oxygen (as by having breathing stopped)
  • noun killing by depriving of oxygen

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin suffocatio.

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Examples

  • Initially, these deaths were believed to be caused by suffocation from the plastic bags used for inhalation.

    Freon Abuse 2010

  • (Which are quite soft enough, I assure you, that the child, though perhaps in danger of suffocation, is not being hurt in the slightest.)

    Next Come Locusts kittenpie 2006

  • The late adversaries, warmed to affection at the sight of him, joined in heedless confusion, and surrounded him; the women kissed his hands, and the edges of his garments; nay, his horse received tribute of their embraces; some wept their welcome; he appeared an angel of peace descended among them; and the only danger was, that his mortal nature would be demonstrated, by his suffocation from the kindness of his friends.

    III.4 1826

  • It doesn’t create the feeling; the suffocation is real.

    Feinstein Issues Statement on Torture - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • The condition was also known as suffocation of the mother.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • The condition was also known as suffocation of the mother.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • The condition was also known as suffocation of the mother.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • What we received right now is the unofficial report, is that a suffocation was the cause of death, but we will not know that for maybe a month or two.

    CNN Transcript May 22, 2007 2007

  • These, however, die of what is called suffocation when the stomach becomes filled and the heat in the central segment is destroyed.

    On youth and old age, on life and death, on breathing 2002

  • For of exhaustion that kind which is destruction due to lack of refrigeration is called suffocation, and whatsoever is thus destroyed is said to be suffocated.

    On youth and old age, on life and death, on breathing 2002

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