smear

[[t]smɪər[/t]]

v. t.

1) to spread or daub (an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance) on or over something:

to smear butter on bread[/ex]

2) to spread or daub an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance on

3) to stain, spot, or make dirty with something oily, greasy, viscous, or wet

4) to sully, vilify, or soil (a reputation, good name, etc.)

5) cvb to smudge or blur, as by rubbing:

The signature was smeared[/ex]

6) sts Slang. to defeat decisively; overwhelm

7) an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance, esp. a dab of such a substance

8) a stain, spot, or mark made by such a substance

9) a smudge

10) vilification; defamation

11) something smeared or to be smeared on a thing, as a glaze for pottery

12) a small quantity of something spread thinly on a slide for microscopic examination

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Etymology: bef. 900; (v.) ME smeren, smirien to rub with fat, anoint, OE smirian, c. OHG smirwen, ON smyrja, smyrwa smear′er, n.