stifle

(noun) joint between the femur and tibia in a quadruped; corresponds to the human knee. Synonyms: knee.

(verb) conceal or hide. Synonyms: smother, strangle, muffle, repress. Examples: "Smother a yawn." "Muffle one's anger." "Strangle a yawn."

(verb) smother or suppress. Synonyms: dampen. Example: "Stifle your curiosity."

(verb) impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of. Synonyms: suffocate, asphyxiate, choke. Example: "The foul air was slowly suffocating the children."

(verb) be asphyxiated; die from lack of oxygen. Synonyms: suffocate, asphyxiate. Example: "The child suffocated under the pillow."