GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 2 definitions
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Smear (smēr), v. 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, n.]
1. To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous, or adhesive; to daub; as, “to smear anything with oil”. “Smear the sleepy grooms with blood.” Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally; as, “to be smeared with infamy”. Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. To smudge, blur, or render indistinct (writing, pictures, etc.).
[PJC]
4. to vilify (a person); to damage (a person's reputation), especially falsely or by unfair innuendo, and with malicious intent.
[PJC]
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Smear, n. [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.
[1913 Webster]
2. Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance; a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain.
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Slow broke the morn,
All damp and rolling vapor, with no sun,
But in its place a moving smear of light. Alexander Smith.
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