Definition of Stifle

1. Noun. Joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee.

Exact synonyms: Knee
Group relationships: Hind Leg
Generic synonyms: Articulatio, Articulation, Joint

2. Verb. Conceal or hide. "Strangle a yawn"
Exact synonyms: Muffle, Repress, Smother, Strangle
Derivative terms: Smotherer, Stifler, Stifling

3. Verb. Smother or suppress. "Stifle your curiosity"
Exact synonyms: Dampen
Specialized synonyms: Choke, Suffocate
Derivative terms: Stifler
Antonyms: Stimulate

4. Verb. Impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of. "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children"

5. Verb. Be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen. "The child suffocated under the pillow"

Definition of Stifle




Definition of Stifle

1. Noun. A hind knee of various mammals, especially horses. ¹

2. Noun. (veterinary medicine) A bone disease of this region. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To interrupt or cut off. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To repress, keep in or hold back. ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To smother or suffocate. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To feel smothered etc. ¹

7. Verb. (intransitive) To die of suffocation. ¹

8. Verb. (transitive) To treat a silkworm cocoon with steam as part of the process of silk production. ¹

¹ Source:

Definition of Stifle

1. to smother [v -FLED, -FLING, -FLES] - See also: smother

Stifle Pictures


Lexicographical Neighbors of Stifle

stifle (current term)

Literary usage of Stifle


1. English Synonymes Explained in Alphabetical Order: With Copious by George Crabb (1826)
"SMOTHER, as a frequentative of smut or smoke, signifies to cover with smut or *moke. SUPPRESS, r. To repress. stifle and smother in their literal sense will ..."

"... and to stifle competition and coerce the city authorities to repeal the license tax, does not charge a criminal conspiracy at common law, but shows that ..."

3. An universal etymological English dictionaryby Nathan Bailey by Nathan Bailey (1724)
"To stifle ... stifleD HORSE, is one who has his Leg- Bone put our, or the Point, much hurt stifle JOINT, ..."

4. The Modern Horse Doctor: Containing Practical Observations on the Causes by George H. Dadd (1854)
"We are frequently called to see horses said to have their stifle out, which, on examination, ... The stifle joint is composed of the lower end of the femur, ..."

5. Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States by United States Supreme Court, John William Wallace (1911)
"... i\ stifle. 1. Section 4 of the constitution of Missouri, which ordains that— " No person shull bo prosecuted in any civil action for or on account of ..."

6. The Exterior of the Horse by Armand Goubaux, Gustave Barrier (1892)
"The stifle corresponds to the femoro-patellar articulation, and is comprised ... Finally, the cutaneous fold, known under the name of fold of the stifle, ..."

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