Search the Dictionary

To drive in or down by frequent gentle strokes; as, to tamp earth so as to make a smooth place.

Designating, or pert. to, a road pavement having a surface of small stone rolled hard and smooth, distinguished from macadam road by its firm foundation of large stones with fragments of stone wedged tightly, in the interstices; as, telford pavement, road, etc.

ing ears, while others, at the English and the black-and-tan terriers, have short, close, smooth hair and upright ears.

Appearing as if rubbed or wiped off; rubbed; smooth; polished. [Obs.] Many stones, . . . although terse and smooth, have not this power attractive. Sir T. Browne.

on. This condition of muscle, this fusion of a number of simple spasms into an apparently smooth, continuous effort, is known as tetanus, or tetanic contraction. Foster.

at character; as, a low, high, loud, grave, acute, sweet, or harsh tone. [Harmony divine] smooths her charming tones. Milton. Tones that with seraph hymns might blend. Keble.

n proportion to their draught of water, that they could bear but little canvas, even with smooth seas and light and favorable winds. Motley.

Any of two or more narrow paths, of steel, smooth stone, or the like, laid in a public roadway otherwise formed of an inferior pavement, as cobblestones, to provide an easy way for wheels.

A locomotive driving wheel which acts by friction adhesion to a smooth track.

A road prepared for easy transit of trams or wagons, by forming the wheel tracks of smooth beams of wood, blocks of stone, or plates of iron.

A smooth triangular area on the inner surface of the bladder, limited by the apertures of the ureters and urethra.

To dress, as timber; to make smooth.

is complete without the aid of keys or pistons, and which can slide from note to note as smoothly as the human voice or a violin. Softly blown, it has a rich and mellow sound, which becomes harsh and blatant when the tones are forced; used with discretion, its effect is often solemn and majestic.

A tool used for smoothing a mold. Trowel bayonet. See Spade bayonet, under Spade. -- Fish trowel. See Fish slice, under Fish.

Formed with a trowel; smoothed with a trowel; as, troweled stucco, that is, stucco laid on and ready for the reception of paint. [Written also trowelled.]

x, etc. -- green turtle (Zoöl.), a marine turtle of the genus Chelonia, having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of which (Chelonia Midas) inhabits the warm part…

Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals.

To smooth after being fretted. [Obs.]

A large, fine pearl. [Obs.] If they [pearls] be white, great, round, smooth, and weighty . . . our dainties and delicates here at Rome . . . call them unions, as a man would say "singular," and by themselves alone. Holland. In the cup an union shall he throw, Richer than that which four successive kings In Denmark's cr…

Fig.; Not smoothed; unpolished; rough. My rhymes be rugged and unkempt. Spenser.