smear

play

noun \ˈsmir\

Definition of smear

1a : a viscous or sticky substanceb : a spot made by or as if by an unctuous or adhesive substance
2 : material smeared on a surface (as of a microscopic slide); also : a preparation made by smearing material on a surface a vaginal smear
3 : a usually unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a person or organization —often used attributively a smear campaign a smear job

See smear defined for English-language learners

See smear defined for kids

Examples of smear in a Sentence

The blood smear revealed malaria.

Origin and Etymology of smear

Middle English smere, from Old English smeoru; akin to Old High German smero grease and probably to Old Irish smiur marrow

First Known Use: before 12th century

smear

verb

Definition of smear

transitive verb
1a : to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive : daub smeared the paper with glueb : to spread over a surface
2a : to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearingb : sully, besmirch; specifically : to vilify especially by secretly and maliciously spreading grave charges and imputations
3 : to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by smearing

smearer

noun

See smear defined for English-language learners

Examples of smear in a Sentence

The children smeared the window with fingerprints.
She smeared jam on her toast.
Butter was smeared all over the counter.
Her mascara smeared when she cried.

Before 12th Century

First Known Use of smear

before 12th century

SMEAR Defined for English Language Learners

smear

play

noun

Definition of smear for English Language Learners

: a dirty mark, spot, streak, etc., made by touching or rubbing something
medical : a very small sample of something (such as skin or blood) that someone examines with a microscope
: an untrue story about a person that is meant to hurt that person's reputation

smear

verb

Definition of smear for English Language Learners

: to make (something) dirty by rubbing it with something else
: to spread (something) over a surface
: to spread or drip in an untidy way

SMEAR Defined for Kids

smear

play

verb \ˈsmir\

Definition of smear for Students

smeared

;

smearing

1 : to spread or soil with something oily or sticky So Bean carefully smeared white all over Ivy's face except her lips. — Annie Barrows, Ivy {ampersand} Bean
2 : to spread over a surface Her makeup smeared.
3 : to harm the reputation of (someone) with false statements

smear

play

noun

Definition of smear for Students

: a spot or streak made by or as if by an oily or sticky substance : smudge

Medical Dictionary

smear

play

noun \ˈsmi(ə)r\

Medical Definition of smear

: material spread on a surface (as of a microscopic slide); also : a preparation made by spreading material on a surface—see pap smear, vaginal smear