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to smooth

to smooth

54 1.1
To make a surface even by rubbing or pressing
  • verb
  • /smuːð/
translation icon : alisar
  • The artist used sandpaper to smooth the wooden surface for a sleek look.
  • smooth the surface
  • smooth out irregularities
  • smooth hair back

I'm just going to smooth this all over my skin.

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Examples

  • Belle knelt at her side and smoothed the girl's hair back from her forehead.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I'm just going to smooth this all over my skin.

  • First, I like to smooth in the foundation.

  • Just going to smooth this over my whole face.

  • And then the next step I do is I smooth my skin.

  • You just smooth it on like this.

  • I just want to smooth this edge, just dry down in there.

  • I'm going to kind of smooth it onto the surface of the skin.

  • Going back in with my soft brush just to smooth all that out.

  • I really love how it just smooths out your skin and hides your pores.

Synonyms

to shine
vsto smooth
64 1.0

To make something smooth and bright by rubbing it

includes that effect but also stresses flattening by pressure
to polish
vsto smooth
46 1.1

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it

focuses on using rubbing or pressing to change texture
to sand
vsto smooth
27 3.5

To rub a surface with sandpaper to make it smooth

can achieve evenness by non-abrasive rubbing or pressing methods
to slick
vsto smooth
18 5.0

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing or adding oil

stresses change by rubbing or pressing rather than adding substance
to buff
vsto smooth
17 4.4

To polish something by rubbing until it is smooth or shiny

is broader, using rubbing or pressure for evenness or shine
to gloss
vsto smooth
1 4.0

To make a surface smooth and shiny by rubbing or polishing

also covers flattening and general surface improvement by pressure
to smooth down
vsto smooth
1 3.8

To make something less rough by pressing it flat or by calming people

is primarily physical, focusing on texture change via rubbing or press
to slick down
vsto smooth
1 5.8

To make a surface such as hair smooth and shiny by using a product or pushing it flat

is wider, including pure pressure or rubbing without added product
to sleek
vsto smooth
1 4.3

To make something smooth and shiny by brushing or pressing

applies across materials, not only grooming or brushing methods
to feather
vsto smooth
  • Specialized
1 6.7

To make an edge soft so it blends into the background

is wider, covering entire surfaces and general texture change
to slicker
vsto smooth
5.1

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing or polishing

is more general, covering gentle flattening or minor shine
to sleek down
vsto smooth
5.8

To make hair smooth and shiny by pressing it or using a little gel

is broader, applying to many materials and tools for finish
to smoothen
vsto smooth
4.3

To make a surface flat and even by rubbing or polishing

is often an active action using direct rubbing or pressure
to rub down
vsto smooth
4.4

To make a surface smooth by moving something over it

usually aims to even or brighten with rubbing or pressing
to sand the edge
vsto smooth
4.9

To make a rough edge smooth by rubbing it with sandpaper

applies more generally to whole areas, not just edges

Antonyms

2 4.2

To make a surface not smooth so it feels bumpy

Idioms

smooth sailing
  • Informal
16 2.7

An easy time with no problems

Accept the good and bad parts of a situation

Phrasal Verbs

Make a problem or argument seem less serious without fixing it

Make a process or problem easier by removing difficulties

To make something less rough by pressing it flat or by calming people

to smooth out
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Remove small random changes in data to show the main trend

To make something better by fixing small problems

Compounds

smooth muscle
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Muscle in the walls of organs and blood vessels that works without thinking

An even, flat surface that has no rough or bumpy parts

1 4.4

A person who has no hair on the face, like a young man without a beard

Having a very smooth face and no beard

Having skin or a surface that is even and without bumps

9.5

A small shark that lives along the Atlantic coast of the Americas with smooth skin and a thin body

smooth dogfish
  • Specialized
8.8

A small shark that lives on the sea bottom along the Atlantic coasts of North and South America

smooth earthball
  • Specialized
9.8

A round fungus with smooth outer skin when young that cracks and darkens

smooth green snake
  • Specialized
6.4

A thin snake with smooth green scales, not poisonous, living in meadows and open woods in the United States

8.4

A shrub with smooth bark that grows in wet places

8.1

A North American plant that lives many years with smooth leaves and pale violet flowers

smooth bark kauri
  • Australian
9.9

A large Australian tree with a smooth pale trunk and light soft wood used for building

smooth crabgrass
  • Specialized
8.2

A low lawn weed with smooth stems and leaves that spreads by seeds and roots

smooth darling pea
  • Australian
9.9

A plant from eastern Australia with bright blue, purple, or red flowers

smooth hammerhead
  • Specialized
7.5

A large shark with a smooth, hammer-shaped head often fished for its liver and skin

smooth lip fern
  • Specialized
8.5

A small green plant with smooth edges on its leaves that grows in shady rocky places

smooth plane
  • Specialized
8.4

A small hand tool that makes wood surfaces smooth

A river turtle with a flat, smooth, rubbery shell that lives in flowing water

5.6

A common shrub from eastern North America with smooth, waxy leaves and clusters of red berries

smooth muscle cell
  • Specialized
4.4

A long thin cell that makes muscle in organs and blood vessels move without you controlling it

A shrub with smooth leaves and bright red berries in winter

A choice that is foolish and not well thought out

A small fern that grows on rocks in cold northern regions with smooth leaves

Having a body that feels smooth to the touch with no rough parts

A small lively dog with a short smooth coat

A European tree with shiny smooth leaves often planted for decoration

A person who speaks in a calm, charming way to persuade others

Having an even, soft surface with no bumps when you touch it

Someone who persuades people using clever, dishonest talk

Having a shell with an even surface without ridges or bumps

How Smooth

to buff
17 4.4
to smooth
54 1.1
to rub
600 1.0
to wipe
531 1.0

Surface Forms

smooth infinitive
smoothed past
smoothed past participle
smoothing present participle
smooths third person singular

Etymology

The word smooth comes from the old English smōþ, meaning 'make even', so to smooth something is to remove bumps or wrinkles and make its surface even or shiny.