dictionary · eo1.org

smear

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: shear, sear, spear, scear, stear, snear, swear, mear, smeal, skear, shmear

Antonyms: shear, sear, spear, scear, stear, snear, swear, mear, smeal, skear, shmear

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Verb

  1. {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[spread]] (a substance, especially one that colours or is [[dirty]]) across a surface by [[rub]]bing.
  2. {{lb|en|transitive}} To cover (a surface ''with'' a layer of some substance) by rubbing.
  3. {{lb|en|transitive}} To make something dirty.
  4. {{lb|en|transitive}} {{qualifier|of a substance, etc.}} To make a surface dirty by covering it.
  5. {{lb|en|transitive|derogatory}} To [[damage]] someone's [[reputation]] by [[slander]]ing, [[misrepresent]]ing, or otherwise making [[false]] [[accusation]]s about them, their statements, or their actions.
  6. {{lb|en|transitive}} To cause (something) to be [[messy]] or not clear by rubbing and spreading it.
  7. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To become messy or not clear by being spread.
  8. {{lb|en|transitive}} To [[write]] or [[draw]] (something) by spreading a substance on a surface.
  9. {{lb|en|transitive}} To cause (something) to be a particular colour by covering with a substance.
  10. {{lb|en|transitive}} To rub (a body part, etc.) across a surface.
  11. {{lb|en|transitive}} To attempt to remove (a substance) from a surface by rubbing.
  12. {{lb|en|climbing}} To climb without using [[foothold]]s, using the friction from the shoe to stay on the wall.

Noun

  1. A mark made by smearing.
  2. {{lb|en|countable|uncountable}} A [[false]] or [[unsupported]], [[malicious]] statement intended to [[injure]] a person's [[reputation]].
  3. {{lb|en|biology}} A [[preparation]] to be [[examine]]d under a [[microscope]], made by spreading a thin layer of a substance (such as blood, bacterial culture) on a [[slide#Noun|slide]].<ref>Edwin Benzel Steen, ''Dictionary of Biology,'' New York: Barnes & Noble, 1971.<sup>[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofbiol00edwi/page/504/mode/1up?q=smear]</sup></ref>
  4. {{lb|en|medicine}} A [[Pap smear]] {{gloss|screening test for cervical cancer}}.
  5. {{lb|en|radio|television|uncountable}} Any of various forms of [[distortion]] that make a [[signal]] harder to see or hear.
  6. {{lb|en|climbing}} A [[maneuver]] in which a shoe is placed onto a [[hold]]less rock, and the friction from the shoe keeps it in contact with the rock.
  7. {{lb|en|music}} A rough [[glissando]] in [[jazz]] music.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.