HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY
To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.
Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.
THE USAGE PANEL
The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.
AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP
The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG
The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.
INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?
Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com
adj. smooth·er, smooth·est 1. a. Having a surface free from irregularities, roughness, or projections; even. See Synonyms at level. b. Free from waves or disturbances; calm: The lake is smooth today. 2. a. Free from hair, whiskers, or stubble: felt his smooth cheek after the close shave. b. Having a short dense flat coat. Used of dogs. 3. a. Having a fine texture: a smooth fabric. b. Having an even consistency: a smooth pudding. c. Having an even or gentle motion or movement: a smooth ride. 4. Having no obstructions or difficulties: a smooth operation; a smooth trip. 5. Easy-going; serene: a smooth temperament. 6. Not sharp or bitter in taste: a smooth wine. 7. Delicately pleasing to the ear; not harsh or grating: a smooth voice. 8. Ingratiatingly polite and agreeable: known for his smooth remarks. v. smoothed, smooth·ing, smoothes v.tr. 1. To make (something) even, level, or unwrinkled: smoothed the fabric with an iron. 2. To rid of obstructions, hindrances, or difficulties: a real estate agent who smoothed the process of applying for a mortgage. 3. To soothe or tranquilize; make calm: The president tried to smooth over the hurt feelings of the disputing factions. 4. To cause to appear less harsh or severe than is the case: Don't try to smooth over their faults. v.intr. To become smooth. n. 1. The act of smoothing. 2. A smooth surface or part. [Middle English smothe, from Old English smōth.] smoother n. smoothly adv. smoothness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
