suppress
suh-PRES
/səˈpres/
To forcibly put an end to something; to knock down or reduce fire heat and flame intensity.
In firefighting, suppression means knocking down active flames and controlling heat, leading toward final extinguishment.
The story behind the word. From Latin suppressus, past participle of supprimere (to press down or hold back), created from sub- (under) and premere (to press).
Word relationships
- subdue: Subdue applies broadly to conquering opponents or emotions, while suppress applies directly to fire or signals.
- stifle: Stifle implies cutting off air, while suppress involves applying force or water streams to reduce flames.
- encourage: Encourage means promoting growth or activity.
- foster: Foster means nurturing development.
Commonly confused with
- extinguish: Suppression reduces fire power; extinguishment kills the fire completely.
Word family
- suppression (noun): The act of suppressing or state of being suppressed.
- suppressor (noun): A device or agent that suppresses.
Collocations
- suppress a fire
- fire suppression system
- suppress flames
Example sentences
- "The building sprinkler system helped to suppress the fire until rescue crews arrived." Automated Safety Systems
- "Firefighters deployed heavy foam lines to suppress toxic chemical flames." Tactical Operations
Memory hook
SUPPRESS means PRESS DOWN the fire under heavy water. Press down the flames.
When not to use
Do not confuse with complete extinguishment; fire suppression is the tactical active phase of knocking fire down.
Fun facts
- Gas-based fire suppression systems use clean agents like Novec 1230 to suppress fire without water damage to sensitive electronics.
Related words
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