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Webster 1913 Edition


Smear

Smear

(smēr)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Smeared
(smērd)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Smearing
.]
[OE.
smeren
,
smerien
, AS.
smierwan
,
smyrwan
, fr.
smeoru
fat, grease; akin to D.
smeren
, OHG.
smirwen
, G.
schmieren
, Icel.
smyrja
to anoint. See
Smear
,
Noun.
]
1.
To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous, or adhesive; to daub;
as, to
smear
anything with oil
.
Smear the sleepy grooms with blood.”
Shak.
2.
To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally;
as, to be
smeared
with infamy
.
Shak.

Smear

,
Noun.
[OE.
smere
,.
smeoru
fat, grease; akin to D.
smeer
, G.
schmeer
, OHG.
smero
, Icel.
smjör
, Sw. & Dan.
smör
butter, Goth.
smaírþr
fatness,
smarna
dung; cf. Lith.
smarsas
fat. Cf.
Smirch
.]
1.
A fat, oily substance; oinment.
Johnson.
2.
Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance; a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain.
Slow broke the morn,
All damp and rolling vapor, with no sun,
But in its place a moving
smear
of light.
Alexander Smith.

Webster 1828 Edition


Smear

SMEAR

, v.t.
1.
To overspread with any thing unctuous, viscous or adhesive; to besmear; to daub; as, to smear any thing with oil, butter, pitch, &c.
2.
To soil; to contaminate; to pollute; as smeared with infamy.

SMEAR

,
Noun.
A fat oily substance; ointment. [Little used.]

Definition 2024


smear

smear

English

Verb

smear (third-person singular simple present smears, present participle smearing, simple past and past participle smeared)

  1. (transitive) To spread (a substance, especially one that colours or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing.
    The artist smeared paint over the canvas in broad strokes.
  2. (transitive) To have a substance smeared on (a surface).
    She smeared her lips with lipstick.
  3. (transitive) To damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about an individual, their statements, or their actions.
    The opposition party attempted to smear the candidate by spreading incorrect and unverifiable rumors about their personal behavior.
  4. (intransitive) To become spread by smearing.
    The paint is still wet don't touch it or it will smear.
  5. (climbing) To climb without using footholds, using the friction from the shoe to stay on the wall.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

smear (plural smears)

  1. A mark made by smearing.
    This detergent cleans windows without leaving smears.
  2. (medicine) A Pap smear.
    I'm going to the doctor's this afternoon for a smear.
  3. A false attack.
  4. (climbing) A maneuver in which the shoe is placed onto the holdless rock, and the friction from the shoe keeps it in contact
  5. (music) A rough glissando in jazz music.

Synonyms

Derived terms

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Anagrams