smudge

[smuhj]

noun

1. a dirty mark or smear.

2. a smeary state.

3. a stifling smoke.

4. a smoky fire, especially one made for driving away mosquitoes or safeguarding fruit trees from frost.

verb (used with object)

smudged, smudging 

1. to mark with dirty streaks or smears.

2. to fill with smudge, as to drive away insects or protect fruit trees from frost.

verb (used without object)

smudged, smudging 

1. to form a smudge on something.

2. to become smudged.

   White shoes smudge easily.

3. to smolder or smoke; emit smoke, as a smudge pot.

smudge

/ smʌdʒ /

verb

1. to smear, blur, or soil or cause to do so

2. (tr) to fill (an area) with smoke in order to drive insects away or guard against frost

noun

1. a smear or dirty mark

2. a blurred form or area

   that smudge in the distance is a quarry

3. a smoky fire for driving insects away or protecting fruit trees or plants from frost

Other Word Forms

• smudgedly adverb
• smudgeless adjective
• unsmudged adjective
• smudgily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of smudge¹

1400–50; late Middle English smogen (v.) < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of smudge¹

C15: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

I was more than a little impressed, especially when it occurred to me that Nathaniel’s grimy, smudged violin was missing two of the four strings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In front of a red velvet curtain with smudged mascara and a crystal teardrop on her cheek, Del Rio delivered a moving a cappella performance of “Llorando,” a Spanish-language take of Roy Orbison’s “Crying.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While we followed the police, we could see the boat – a thin black smudge on a milky sea – to our left.

Read more on BBC

He has been keeping close tabs on the touring production, not wanting his handiwork to get smudged in transit.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another message, partially smudged, appears to tell officers to catch the inmates when they can.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• blacken 
• daub 
• spatter 
• sully