stifle

1. n. The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also stifle joint. See Illust. under Horse. Source: opted

2. v. t. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust. Source: opted

3. v. t. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame. Source: opted

4. v. t. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion. Source: opted

5. v. i. To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration. Source: opted

6. n. joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee Source: wordnet

7. v. suppress in order to conceal or hide Source: wordnet

8. v. suppress or constrain so as to lessen in intensity Source: wordnet

9. v. impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of Source: wordnet

10. v. be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen Source: wordnet

11. The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also stifle joint. See Illust. under Horse. Stifle bone, a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella, or kneepan. 1. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust. Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies. Dryden. I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room. Swift. 2. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame. Bodies . . . stifle in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit. Sir I. Newton. 3. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion. I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled. Waterland. To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration. You shall stifle in your own report. Shak. Source: webster

12. The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hindleg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to theknee in man; -- called also stifle joint. See Illust. under Horse.Stifle bone, a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella, orkneepan. Source: adambom

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