stifle

Noun

joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee

Verb

suppress in order to conceal or hide; "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a laugh"; "repress a cry of fear"

Verb

suppress or constrain so as to lessen in intensity; "Stifle your curiosity"

Verb

impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of; "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children"

Verb

be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen; "The child suffocated under the pillow"