Main Entry:

²smear

Function:

transitive verb

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive : daub <smeared the paper with glue> b: to spread over a surface2 a: to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing b: sully, besmirch ; specifically : to vilify especially by secretly and maliciously spreading grave charges and imputations3: to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by smearing

— smear·er noun