2smooth verb
smoothes; smoothed; smooth·ing [+ obj] 1 : to make (something) smooth
▪ He smoothed his tie and headed out the door. ▪ The coin's date had been smoothed away over time. — often + back or down ▪ She smoothed back her hair. ▪ Smooth the surface down with sandpaper. — see also smooth out (below) 2 : to remove problems or difficulties from a situation
▪ They smoothed the way for a quick end to the dispute. [=they made it easier to achieve a quick end to the dispute] ▪ She has helped smooth a path [=has helped make it easier] for more women to run for office. 3 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to spread (something) over a surface (such as your skin) : to apply (something) by rubbing it on a surface
▪ Smooth the cream on after your shower. ▪ Smooth the wax over the wood before polishing. ▪ She smoothed on some moisturizer before she put on her makeup. ▪ He smoothed ointment over the cut.
▪ He smoothed his tie and headed out the door. ▪ The coin's date had been smoothed away over time. — often + back or down ▪ She smoothed back her hair. ▪ Smooth the surface down with sandpaper. — see also smooth out (below)
▪ They smoothed the way for a quick end to the dispute. [=they made it easier to achieve a quick end to the dispute] ▪ She has helped smooth a path [=has helped make it easier] for more women to run for office.
▪ Smooth the cream on after your shower. ▪ Smooth the wax over the wood before polishing. ▪ She smoothed on some moisturizer before she put on her makeup. ▪ He smoothed ointment over the cut.
smooth away [phrasal verb]
smooth (something) away or smooth away (something) : to make (problems, difficulties, etc.) less serious : to remove (problems, difficulties, etc.)
▪ We'll help smooth away any legal trouble.
▪ We'll help smooth away any legal trouble.
smooth out [phrasal verb]
smooth (something) out or smooth out (something) 1 : to make (something) smooth or flat
▪ Help me smooth out the tablecloth. ▪ The ground was rocky, so we smoothed out the path with cedar chips. 2 : to make (something) easier by removing or dealing with problems
▪ We will smooth out the election process by next year. ▪ She tried to smooth things out [=end an argument or disagreement] with her daughter-in-law, but the damage was done.
▪ Help me smooth out the tablecloth. ▪ The ground was rocky, so we smoothed out the path with cedar chips.
▪ We will smooth out the election process by next year. ▪ She tried to smooth things out [=end an argument or disagreement] with her daughter-in-law, but the damage was done.
smooth over [phrasal verb]
smooth (something) over or smooth over (something) : to make (a disagreement, problem, difficulty, etc.) seem less serious than it really is
▪ Don't worry about missing the application deadline—we'll smooth that over with the office. ▪ She smoothed over the objections to his candidacy.
▪ Don't worry about missing the application deadline—we'll smooth that over with the office. ▪ She smoothed over the objections to his candidacy.
