smolder

Meaning

Verb

1. (US, intransitive) To burn with no flame and little smoke.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To show signs of repressed anger or suppressed mental turmoil or other strong emotion, such as passion.
3. (figuratively, intransitive) To exist in a suppressed or hidden state.

Noun

The act of smoldering or something that smolders.

Synonyms

smoulder

smoke

smoulder

glow

sputter

boil

flush

foment

fume

give head

gleam

glint

blaze

incandesce

seethe

simmer

smother

bloat

glow with heat

seeth

give off smoke

come up

coal

ember

Translations

schwelen

σιγοκαίω

covare

glimmen

rauchen

καίω χωρίς φλόγα

υποκαίω

fuego lento

smeulen

quarzen

schwiemeln

rauchig sein

qualmen

verräuchern

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsmoʊldɚ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: smolderen

Cognate with English: smell

In summary

From Middle English smolderen (“to suffocate, stifle”), from Middle English smolder (“smoke, smoky vapour”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *smolōn (“to burn, glow, fume, smoulder”). Related to Proto-West Germanic *smallijan (> English smell).