blear

[bleer]

See more synonyms for blear on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to make dim, as with tears or inflammation: a biting wind that bleared the vision.

adjective

(of the eyes) dim from tears.
dim; indistinct.

noun

a blur; cloudiness; dimness: She was concerned about the recent blear in her vision.

Origin of blear

1250–1300; Middle English bleri, blere (v.), blere (adj.) < ?

Related formsblear·ed·ness

[bleer-id-nis] /ˈblɪər ɪd nɪs/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for blear

dim, darken, mislead, fog, deceive, protrude, obscure, dull

Examples from the Web for blear

Historical Examples of blear

He gazed with an open mouth and puzzled, blear eyes at the woman before him.
A Sheaf of Corn
Mary E. Mann
The dogs were nearly as furious as the night before, and the day's eye was blear.
The Lost Pibroch
Neil Munro
Blear eyes, sore faces, and sore feet were almost universal.
Notes on Old Edinburgh
Isabella L. Bird
Idiots, with blear eyes and protending under-lips, gibbered and whined.
The Garden Of Allah
Robert Hichens
"You bet I c'n answer," said Alf bravely, blinking his blear eyes.
The Daughter of Anderson Crow
George Barr McCutcheon

British Dictionary definitions for blear

blear

verb

(tr) to make (eyes or sight) dim with or as if with tears; blur

adjective

a less common word for bleary

Word Origin for blear

C13: blere to make dim; related to Middle High German blerre blurred vision

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for blear

adj.

c.1300, blere "watery, rheumy," perhaps related to blur. Cf. Middle High German blerre "having blurred vision."

"to dim (of vision); to have watery or rheumy eyes," early 14c., of uncertain origin, possibly from an Old English *blerian, from the same source as blear (adj.). Related: Bleared; blearing.