1. Burning slowly with smoke but no flame: This is the most common meaning. Think of a fire that's dying down, producing smoke but not a bright flame.
* Example: "The campfire smoldered in the ashes, sending wisps of smoke into the night sky."
2. Suppressed anger or passion: This meaning refers to something that is intensely felt but not outwardly expressed.
* Example: "She glared at him with smoldering resentment, her anger barely contained."
3. Attractive in a dark or intense way: This meaning is used to describe someone who is alluring and mysterious.
* Example: "His smoldering gaze made her heart race."
4. To exist in a suppressed or dormant state: This meaning suggests something is waiting to be released or activated.
* Example: "The tension in the room smoldered, threatening to erupt into violence."
The best way to understand what "smoldering" means is to look at the context in which it is used.