smear

American  

[smeer] / smɪər /

verb (used with object)

1. to spread or daub (an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance) on or over something.

   to smear butter on bread.

2. to spread or daub an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance on.

   to smear bread with butter.

3. to stain, spot, or make dirty with something oily, greasy, viscous, or wet.

4. to sully, vilify, or soil (a reputation, good name, etc.).

5. to smudge or blur, as by rubbing.

   The signature was smeared.

6. Slang. to defeat decisively; overwhelm.

   They smeared the home team.

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noun

1. an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance, especially a dab of such a substance.

2. a stain, spot, or mark made by such a substance.

3. a smudge.

4. something smeared or to be smeared on a thing, as a glaze for pottery.

5. a small quantity of something spread thinly on a slide for microscopic examination.

6. vilification.

   a smear by a cheap gossip columnist.

smear British  

/ smɪə /

verb

1. to bedaub or cover with oil, grease, etc

2. to rub over or apply thickly

3. to rub so as to produce a smudge

4. to slander

5. slang to defeat completely

6. (intr) to be or become smeared or dirtied

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noun

1. a dirty mark or smudge

2. 1. a slanderous attack

   2. ( as modifier )

      smear tactics

3. a preparation of blood, secretions, etc, smeared onto a glass slide for examination under a microscope

Other Word Forms

• smearer noun
• unsmeared adjective

Etymology

Origin of smear

before 900; (v.) Middle English smeren, smirien to rub with fat, anoint, Old English smirian, smerian, smerwan; cognate with Dutch smeren, German schmieren, Old Norse smyrja, smyrwa; (noun) in current senses derivative of the v.; compare obsolete smear fat, grease, ointment, Middle English smere, Old English smeoru, cognate with Dutch smear, German Schmer, Old Norse smjǫr grease, Greek smýris rubbing powder; emery

Example Sentences

The British-Egyptian activist at the centre of a political row appears to have endorsed new and baseless claims that he is the victim of a "smear campaign".

From BBC

For years, I left a trail behind me: stacked dishes, smeared counters, a fine dusting of flour like evidence.

From Salon

Mittal, founder of the Oakland Institute, a human rights and development focused think tank in California, described Magnum's approach as a "public smear campaign" and said the allegations were unfounded.

From BBC

But the following week, he appeared to change course, alleging that the media was trying to “smear” firefighters while saying he still planned to investigate the Lachman fire.

From Los Angeles Times

I was practicing this new technique with a smear of sauce on my face, and it didn’t faze her one bit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besmirch
• blur
• coat
• dab
• daub
• plaster
• smudge
• spatter
• spray
• sprinkle
• stain
• sully
• taint
• tar
• tarnish