smooth

1 adjective

1 FLAT a smooth surface is completely flat and even: The stone steps had been worn smooth by centuries of visitors.

—opposite rough 1 (1)

2 SOFT skin or fur that is smooth is soft and pleasant to touch, and your hand moves easily over it: Sheila stroked the cat's silky smooth fur. | as smooth as a baby's bottom

3 LIQUID a liquid mixture that is smooth is thick but with no big pieces in it: Beat the eggs and flour until they are smooth.

—opposite lumpy

4 GRACEFUL (only before noun) a smooth movement, style, way of doing something etc is graceful and has no sudden awkward changes: Swing the tennis racquet in one smooth motion.

—opposite jerky 1

5 WITHOUT PROBLEMS a system, operation, or process that is smooth operates well and without problems: contributing to the smooth running of the company

—see also: go smoothly smoothly (2)

6 PLEASANT TASTE a drink such as whisky or beer that is smooth is not bitter but tastes pleasant and is easy to swallow

7 POLITE someone who is smooth is polite, confident, and relaxed, but does not seem sincere: I never trust these smooth salesmen.

8 COMFORTABLE a journey that is smooth is comfortable because the plane does not shake, or the sea is not rough: We had a smooth crossing on the boat. | a smooth flight

—opposite bumpy, —see also: smoothly, smooth talking — smoothness noun (U) 2 verb (T)

1 also smooth out to make something such as paper or cloth flat by moving your hands across it: They smoothed out the map on the table and planned their route.

2 also smooth down to make something that is raised flat by moving your hands across it: Angela smoothed her hair down neatly.

3 also smooth down to take away the roughness from the surface of wood, clay etc: You have to smooth it before you varnish it.

4 (always +adv/prep) to rub a liquid, cream, etc gently over a surface or into a surface: smooth sth into/over: She smoothed suntan lotion over her legs.

5 smooth the way to make it easier for something to happen, by dealing with any problems first: an agreement smoothing the way to an eventual merger

smooth sth away phrasal verb (T) to get rid of problems or difficulties easily: A few objections have to be smoothed away before we can start the project. smooth sth over phrasal verb (T) to make problems or difficulties seem less important: Sally managed to smooth over the bad feelings between them.