smear
1 of 2verb/smɪr/
Forms:smears,smearing,smeared,smeared
1
to spread a substance over a surface in a messy or uneven manner
transitive- She accidentally smeared ink across the page, leaving a messy blot.
- He smeared grease on the gears to keep them running smoothly.
- The child smeared paint on the wall, creating abstract patterns.
- She smeared lipstick on her lips without using a mirror, resulting in uneven application.
- The chef smeared sauce on the plate to add a decorative touch to the dish.
2
to tarnish someone's reputation with unfounded or malicious claims
transitive- The tabloid newspaper attempted to smear the politician's reputation with baseless allegations of corruption.
- His former colleagues attempted to smear his reputation in the industry.
- Online trolls attempted to smear the celebrity by spreading rumors and fabricated stories on social media.
- The journalist faced a defamation lawsuit after attempting to smear the CEO with unsubstantiated claims.
- The disgruntled employee attempted to smear the company's reputation by leaking confidential information to the press.
3
to spread a dirty or unclean substance over a surface, resulting in a stain or discoloration
transitive- The children's hands were smeared with colorful markers after a day of crafting and drawing.
- The mechanic's hands were smeared with engine grease after working on the car.
- The mud from the garden smeared the carpet, leaving dark stains on the fibers.
- The spilled coffee smeared the pages of the book, leaving brown stains on the paper.
- The sauce from the spaghetti smeared the white tablecloth, leaving orange stains.
4
(climbing) to use the friction of one's shoe against the rock surface to gain traction and support
- He had to smear on the smooth rock face to find purchase.
- The climber relied on precise foot placements to smear effectively.
- She struggled to smear on the slick limestone cliff during the rain.
- The climber's technique involved delicately smearing on the tiny edges.