blur

¹blur

noun \ˈblər\

Definition of BLUR

1

: a smear or stain that obscures

2

: something vaguely or indistinctly perceived; especially : something moving or occurring too quickly to be clearly seen

Origin of BLUR

perhaps akin to Middle English bleren to blear

First Known Use: 1519

Rhymes with BLUR

birr, burr, Burr, chirr, churr, cur, curr, err, fir, for, fur, her, knur, murre, myrrh, per, purr, shirr, sir, skirr, slur, spur, stir, thir, whir, your

²blur

verb

blurred blur·ring

Definition of BLUR

transitive verb

1

: to obscure or blemish by smearing

2

: sully

3

: to make dim, indistinct, or vague in outline or character

4

: to make cloudy or confused

intransitive verb

1

: to make blurs

2

: to become vague or indistinct

— blur·ring·ly \ˈblər-iŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of BLUR

1. The tears in my eyes blurred the words on the page.
2. His novel is based on historical occurrences but it blurs the line between fact and fiction.
3. The two events have blurred together in my mind.

First Known Use of BLUR

1520

Related to BLUR

Synonyms

becloud, befog, confuse, cloud, fog, muddy, obfuscate

Antonyms

clarify, clear (up), illuminate

Related Words

complicate, perplex, sophisticate; entangle, snarl, tangle; disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disorder, disrupt, disturb, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, scramble, shuffle, tousle, upset

Near Antonyms

simplify, streamline; disentangle, straighten (out), undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle; decipher, decode; analyze, break down