smooth

views updated

smooth / smoō[voicedth]/ • adj. 1. having an even and regular surface or consistency; free from perceptible projections, lumps, or indentations: smooth flat rocks. ∎  (of a person's face or skin) not wrinkled, pitted, or hairy: a smooth skin tans more easily. ∎  (of a liquid) with an even consistency; without lumps: cook gently until the sauce is smooth. ∎  (of the sea or another body of water) without heavy waves; calm: the smooth summer sea. ∎  (of movement) without jerks: the trucks gave a smooth ride graphics are excellent, with fast, smooth scrolling. ∎  (of an action, event, or process) without problems or difficulties: the group's expansion into the U.S. market was not quite so smooth. ∎  denoting the face of a tennis or squash racket without the projecting loops from the stringing process (used as a call when the racket is spun to decide the right to serve first or to choose ends); the opposite of rough (in sense 1).2. (of food or drink) without harshness or bitterness: a lovely, smooth, very fruity wine. ∎  (of a person or their manner, actions, or words) suavely charming in a way considered to be unctuous: his voice was infuriatingly smooth.• v. [tr.] give (something) a flat, regular surface or appearance by running one's hand over it: she smoothed out the newspaper. ∎  rub off the rough edges of (something): you can use sandpaper to smooth the joint. ∎  deal successfully with (a problem, difficulty, or perceived fault): these doctrinal disputes were smoothed over. ∎  free (a course of action) from difficulties or problems: a conference would be held to smooth the way for the establishment of the provisional government. ∎  modify (a graph, curve, etc.) so as to lessen irregularities: values are collected over a long period of time so that fluctuations are smoothed out.• adv. archaic in a way that is without difficulties: the course of true love never did run smooth.PHRASES: smooth someone's ruffled featherssee ruffle.DERIVATIVES: smooth·a·ble adj.smooth·er n.smooth·ish adj.smooth·ly adv.smooth·ness n.