smear

¹smear

noun \ˈsmir\

Definition of SMEAR

1

a : a viscous or sticky substance b : 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>

Examples of SMEAR

1. The blood smear revealed malaria.

Origin 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

Rhymes with SMEAR

beer, bier, blear, cere, cheer, clear, dear, deer, Deere, drear, ear, fear, fere, fleer, gear, hear, here, jeer, leer, mere, mir, near, peer, pier, Pierre, queer, rear, schmear, sear, seer, sere, shear, sheer, skirr, sneer, spear, speer, sphere, steer, tear, tier, Trier, Tyr, veer, weir, year