smearverb/smɪə(ɹ)/

• 1

  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.
  • In general, all bodies whose surfaces are even will […] stick to each other, and if a liquid be smeared over either surface, their cohesion will be still the stronger.
• 2

  To cover (a surface with a layer of some substance) by rubbing.

  • She smeared her lips with lipstick.
  • Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there: go carry them; and smear The sleepy grooms with blood.
• 3

  To make something dirty.

  • A man may bee smeared or grimed, and euerie man shall laugh at him, and yet he himselfe shall not perceiue it a whit.
  • […] she returned, carrying Johnnie, his face all smeared with eating,
• 4

  (of a substance, etc.) To make a surface dirty by covering it.

  • a pallor which was accentuated by the blood which smeared her lips and cheeks and chin
  • a rust spot smearing the back of the sink
• 5

  derogatoryTo damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about them, their statements, or their actions.

  • The opposition party attempted to smear the candidate by spreading incorrect and unverifiable rumors about their personal behavior.
  • May everlasting shame consume The memory of those who tried To befoul and smear th’ exalted name Of one who spurned them in his pride.
• 6

  To cause (something) to be messy or not clear by rubbing and spreading it.

  • When she had entered two or three laborious items in the account-book, Jip would walk over the page, wagging his tail, and smear them all out.
  • Then there are four lines smeared so that I can only read went 5 days ago.
• 7

  To become messy or not clear by being spread.

  • The paint is still wet — don't touch it or it will smear.
• 8

  To write or draw (something) by spreading a substance on a surface.

  • ciphers smeared on the windows of condemned shops
  • smear crude words on the walls in the victim’s own blood as evidence of his final cult-related frenzy

smearnoun/smɪə(ɹ)/

• 1

  A mark made by smearing.

  • This detergent cleans windows without leaving smears.
  • A smear of decisive lead-coloured paint had been laid on to obliterate Henchard’s name, though its letters dimly loomed through like ships in a fog.
• 2

  cookingfoodlifestyleA mark made by smearing.

• 3

  A false or unsupported, malicious statement intended to injure a person's reputation.

  • smear campaign
  • I should have held him quite beneath my Notice, as is all he utters, but that the Appetite of Slander, in many, is too predominant; and, ’tis possible, when the filthiest Fellow throws a Profusion of Dirt, some may chance to stick, if not timely thrown off; I shall endeavour therefore, to wipe away the sooty Smears of this Chimney-sweeper, by relating a simple Fact, which will, I flatter myself, amply confute the malicious Tales of this unprovoked, rancorous Mortal:
• 4

  biologynatural-sciencesA preparation to be examined under a microscope, made by spreading a thin layer of a substance (such as blood, bacterial culture) on a slide.

• 5

  medicinesciencesA Pap smear (screening test for cervical cancer).

  • I'm going to the doctor's this afternoon for a smear.
• 6

  broadcastingmediaradioAny of various forms of distortion that make a signal harder to see or hear.

  • In television terms, a certain amount of smear, ringing, and anticipatory overshoot are indigenous to VSB transmission.
  • Results show the reduction in intelligibility produced by changing the filter condition was much greater than reductions caused by altering smear duration.
• 7

  climbinghobbieslifestyleA maneuver in which a shoe is placed onto a holdless rock, and the friction from the shoe keeps it in contact with the rock.

• 8

  entertainmentlifestylemusicA rough glissando in jazz music.