# smooth

/ˈsmuð/ (US) · /smˈuːð/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/smooth
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. surface texture

adjective · CEFR B1

having a surface that is perfectly even and not rough.

For teachers: having an even and regular surface or consistency; free from perceptible projections, lumps, or indentations.

- The marble floor was so smooth that the children could slide across it in their socks.
- The craftsman sanded the wood until the surface was perfectly smooth, ensuring that the finish would adhere evenly without any visible grain.

### 2. without problems

adjective · CEFR B1

happening without any difficulties, delays, or sudden changes.

For teachers: characterised by an absence of difficulties, obstacles, or interruptions; proceeding at an even pace.

- The transition to the new office was very smooth and everyone was working by noon.
- Despite initial concerns regarding the merger, the integration of the two departments was remarkably smooth, largely due to meticulous advance planning.

### 3. charming/suave

adjective · CEFR B2

polite and confident in a way that is very attractive, though sometimes it feels a bit fake.

For teachers: possessing a confident, polite, and charming manner; often carries a secondary nuance of being suspiciously glib or superficial.

- He is a smooth talker who can convince anyone to agree with his ideas.
- The salesman’s smooth delivery and polished appearance initially impressed the clients, though they later questioned the substance of his promises.

### 4. liquid or taste

adjective · CEFR B1

having a pleasant taste or texture that is not sharp, bitter, or lumpy.

For teachers: having a pleasantly rounded flavour or a consistent, non-grainy texture; lacking astringency or harshness.

- This soup is very smooth and creamy because I used a blender.
- The wine was noted for its smooth finish, lacking the sharp acidity often found in younger vintages from that region.

### 5. mathematical functions

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing a line or curve that changes gently without any sharp corners.

For teachers: referring to a function that has continuous derivatives of all orders; colloquially, a curve without cusps or breaks.

- The graph shows a smooth curve representing the steady growth of the company.
- For the purposes of this model, we assume a smooth transition between the two states to simplify the differential equations.

### 6. to make even

verb · CEFR B2

to move your hand or a tool over something to make it flat or tidy.

For teachers: to make a surface even or regular; to remove wrinkles, bubbles, or irregularities through pressure or friction.

- She tried to smooth the wrinkles in her dress before the interview started.
- The wallpaper installer used a plastic tool to smooth out the air bubbles, ensuring the pattern aligned perfectly across the seam.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'out'.

### 7. to ease a situation

verb · CEFR B2

to make a situation easier or to reduce problems between people.

For teachers: to facilitate a process or to alleviate tension in a social or professional situation.

- The manager had to smooth things over after the two employees had a loud argument.
- The diplomat worked tirelessly to smooth the way for the upcoming peace negotiations, addressing minor grievances before the main summit began.

Usage: Commonly appears in the phrase 'smooth the way' or 'smooth things over'.

## Examples

- The stone feels very smooth after years in the river.
- The mechanic sanded the car door until the surface was perfectly smooth and ready for painting.
- The transition to the new software system was surprisingly smooth, with minimal downtime and high levels of employee satisfaction during the first week of implementation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.