Smear - English meaning

verb

Smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony.

Usage examples:

High priests were anointed with oil

verb

To make someone holy in a religious ceremony by putting holy water or oil on them

verb

To make someone king or queen, especially as part of a religious ceremony

Usage examples:

[ + obj + noun ] in 751 pepin was anointed king.

verb

Smear or daub with a sticky substance.

Usage examples:

A dozen maidens, all bedaubed with paint

verb

To cover something very roughly with something sticky or dirty

Usage examples:

The child's face was bedaubed with chocolate.

verb

Damage (someone's reputation).

Usage examples:

He had besmirched the good name of his family

verb

To say bad things about someone to influence other people's opinion of them

Usage examples:

His accusations were false, but they served to besmirch her reputation.

verb

Make or become black or dark, especially as a result of burning, decay, or bruising.

Usage examples:

Stone blackened by the soot of ages

verb

To make something black

Usage examples:

For miles around, trees were blackened by the fire.

verb

To become black or to make something become black, for example because of dirt or smoke

Usage examples:

The folds of the curtains were blackened with dirt., the buildings were blackened by explosions., c…

noun

A drop of a thick liquid or viscous substance.

Usage examples:

Blobs of paint

verb

Put small drops of thick liquid or spots of colour on.

Usage examples:

Her nose was blobbed with paint

noun

A collection of data in binary form, typically a multimedia item, stored as a single entity in a database management system.

noun

A large irregular patch or unsightly mark on the skin or another surface.

Usage examples:

Red blotches on her face

verb

Cover with blotches.

Usage examples:

Her face was blotched and swollen with crying

noun

An unwanted mark on a surface that is different from the surrounding area

Usage examples:

There were red blotches on her face and neck.

verb

Make or become unclear or less distinct.

Usage examples:

Tears blurred her vision

noun

A thing that cannot be seen or heard clearly.

Usage examples:

The pale blur of her face

adjective

(of a person) stupid, clumsy, or confused.

Usage examples:

It was kinda funny seeing how blur someone can be when having to do a task they have no clue about

verb

Make false and defamatory statements about.

Usage examples:

He has been calumniating the crown

verb

To make statements about someone that are not true and that are damaging to their reputation

Usage examples:

He has tried to calumniate and destroy everyone whose opinions differ from his.

noun

The making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander.

Usage examples:

A bitter struggle marked by calumny and litigation

verb

Slander (someone).

Usage examples:

That passage takes us closer to the reason why he has been hated and calumnied for so long.

noun

(the act of making) a statement about someone that is not true and is intended to damage the reputation of that person

Usage examples:

He was subjected to the most vicious calumny, but he never complained and never sued.

noun

An outer garment with sleeves, worn outdoors and typically extending below the hips.

Usage examples:

A winter coat

verb

Provide with a layer or covering of something.

Usage examples:

Her right leg was coated in plaster

noun

Any of various types of outer clothing that are worn over other clothes, usually open in the front, and are often used for warmth

Usage examples:

She put on her heavy winter coat., a raincoat, the dog’s coat is shiny and clean., there were about…

verb

Put something on top of or in front of (something), especially in order to protect or conceal it.

Usage examples:

The table had been covered with a checked tablecloth

noun

A thing which lies on, over, or around something, especially in order to protect or conceal it.

Usage examples:

A seat cover

verb

To put or spread something over something, or to lie on the surface of something

Usage examples:

Once the rice comes to a boil, turn down the flame and cover the pot., she covered the child with a…

verb

Press against (something) lightly several times with a piece of absorbent material in order to clean or dry it or to apply a substance.

Usage examples:

He dabbed his mouth with his napkin

noun

A small amount of something.

Usage examples:

She licked a dab of chocolate from her finger

noun

A small, commercially important flatfish found chiefly in the north atlantic.

Usage examples:

Even though this rig is especially good for gurnards, it also proves superbly successful for dabs, …

noun

Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something.

Usage examples:

Bombing caused extensive damage to the town

verb

Inflict physical harm on (something) so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function.

Usage examples:

The car was badly damaged in the accident

verb

To harm or spoil something

Usage examples:

Many buildings were badly damaged by the earthquake., news reports damaged the senator’s reputation…

verb

Carelessly coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

The walls were daubed with splashes of paint

noun

A patch or smear of a thick or sticky substance.

Usage examples:

A daub of paint

verb

To spread a thick or sticky liquid on something or to cover something with a thick or sticky liquid, often quickly or carelessly

Usage examples:

Be daubed with the walls had been daubed with graffiti., daub something all over something the baby…

noun

The action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander or libel.

Usage examples:

She sued him for defamation

noun

The action of damaging the reputation of a person or group by saying or writing bad things about them that are not true

Usage examples:

She threatened to sue members of the committee for defamation., defamation of character he is suing…

verb

Damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel.

Usage examples:

He claimed that the article defamed his family

verb

To damage someone’s or something’s reputation by saying or writing bad things that are not true

Usage examples:

He was behind the propaganda campaign to defame his political opponent.

verb

To harm someone's reputation by saying or writing bad things about them

Usage examples:

It is possible to defame a company as companies are considered to have a legal 'personality'.

verb

Damage the purity or appearance of; mar or spoil.

Usage examples:

The land was defiled by a previous owner

noun

A steep-sided narrow gorge or passage (originally one requiring troops to march in single file).

Usage examples:

The twisting track wormed its way up a defile to level ground

verb

(of troops) march in single file.

Usage examples:

We emerged after defiling through the mountainsides

adjective

Covered or marked with an unclean substance.

Usage examples:

A tray of dirty cups and saucers

adverb

Used for emphasis.

Usage examples:

A dirty great slab of stone

verb

Make dirty.

Usage examples:

She didn't like him dirtying her nice clean towels

verb

Harm the good reputation of.

Usage examples:

His remarks were taken out of context in an effort to discredit him

noun

Loss or lack of reputation or respect.

Usage examples:

His actions were such that they brought discredit on his profession

verb

To give people reason to stop believing someone or to doubt the truth of something

Usage examples:

The old soviet economic model has been thoroughly discredited., it’s the job of the defense to disc…

noun

A thick oily substance, especially as used as a lubricant.

Usage examples:

Axle grease

verb

Smear or lubricate with grease.

Usage examples:

Grease a shallow baking dish

noun

Animal fat that is soft after melting

Usage examples:

There’s always a lot of grease when you cook lamb., you ought to put some grease on that hinge., gr…

noun

Fat from the abdomen of a pig that is rendered and clarified for use in cooking.

Usage examples:

The gravy was made from lard, chicken stock chili powder and cumin.

verb

Insert strips of fat or bacon in (meat) before cooking.

Usage examples:

He larded the joint with garlic and anchovies

noun

A soft, white, creamy substance made from the fat of pigs and used in cooking and baking

noun

A published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.

Usage examples:

He was found guilty of a libel on a liverpool inspector of taxes

verb

Defame (someone) by publishing a libel.

Usage examples:

The jury found that he was libelled by a newspaper

noun

A piece of writing that says bad, false, and harmful things about a person, or the legal claim you make when you accuse someone in court of writing such things about you

Usage examples:

[ c ] the whole story was a vicious libel., [ u ] angry at what the newspaper had printed, she sued…

verb

(of a person or animal) be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface.

Usage examples:

The body lay face downwards on the grass

noun

The way, direction, or position in which something lies.

Usage examples:

He was familiarizing himself with the lie of the streets

verb

Tell a lie or lies.

Usage examples:

Why had ashenden lied about his visit to london?

adjective

Evil in nature or effect.

Usage examples:

She had a strong and malign influence

verb

Speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.

Usage examples:

Don't you dare malign her in my presence

verb

To say things about someone or something that are harmful and usually not true

Usage examples:

He said he had been unfairly maligned by a few board members who wanted him fired.

noun

A small area on a surface having a different colour from its surroundings, typically one caused by damage or dirt.

Usage examples:

The blow left a red mark down one side of her face

verb

Make a visible impression or stain on.

Usage examples:

He fingered the photograph gently, careful not to mark it

noun

(until the introduction of the euro in 2002) the basic monetary unit of germany, equal to 100 pfennig; a deutschmark.

Usage examples:

Germany spent billions of marks to save the french franc from speculators

noun

A piece of cloth or other material used to mend or strengthen a torn or weak point.

Usage examples:

The jacket was of well-worn tweed with leather patches on the elbows

verb

Mend or strengthen (fabric or clothing) with a patch.

Usage examples:

Her jeans were neatly patched

noun

A small part of a surface that is different in some way from the area around it

Usage examples:

Watch for patches of ice on the road., we have a small vegetable patch (= area for growing vegetabl…

noun

The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

Usage examples:

He is suing the tv company for slander

verb

Make false and damaging statements about (someone).

Usage examples:

They were accused of slandering the head of state

noun

A false, spoken statement about someone which damages that person's reputation, or the making of such a statement

Usage examples:

[ u ] political campaigns are full of shameless slander., her statement was not meant to slander an…

verb

Speak (words) indistinctly so that the sounds run into one another.

Usage examples:

He was slurring his words like a drunk

noun

An insinuation or allegation about someone that is likely to insult them or damage their reputation.

Usage examples:

The comments were a slur on staff at the hospital

verb

To pronounce the sounds of a word in a way that is wrong or not clear

Usage examples:

Her speech was slurred but she still denied she was drunk.

verb

Make (something) dirty; soil.

Usage examples:

The window was smirched by heat and smoke

noun

A dirty mark or stain.

Usage examples:

Standing before a small mirror on the inside of his door, marker dipped his comb into a jar of oran…

verb

Cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it.

Usage examples:

She dabbed her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up

noun

A blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something.

Usage examples:

A smudge of blood on the floor

noun

A smoky outdoor fire that is lit to keep off insects or protect plants against frost.

Usage examples:

Discussions of the merits of various smudges at keeping bugs at bay

noun

The upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.

Usage examples:

Blueberries need very acid soil

verb

Make dirty.

Usage examples:

He might soil his expensive suit

noun

Waste matter, especially sewage containing excrement.

Usage examples:

Hazardous waste includes contaminated soil, paint, solvent residues, asbestos and highly acidic and…

noun

A large blob or smear of something; a splotch.

Usage examples:

A splodge of strawberry jam

verb

Mark with a large blob or smear of something.

Usage examples:

Her coat was splodged with paint

noun

A mark or spot that does not have a regular shape

Usage examples:

He put his hand on the bed, and left a splodge of blood on the bedspread.

noun

A blob or smear of something, typically a liquid.

Usage examples:

A splotch of red in a larger area of yellow

verb

Mark with a blot or smear of something.

Usage examples:

The white tablecloth was splotched with red wine

noun

A mark or spot with an irregular shape

Usage examples:

The rash showed as red splotches on her face.

noun

A small round or roundish mark, differing in colour or texture from the surface around it.

Usage examples:

Ladybirds have black spots on their red wing covers

verb

Short for spotlight.

verb

A point located with respect to surface features of some region

verb

Mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed.

Usage examples:

Her clothing was stained with blood

noun

A coloured patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove.

Usage examples:

There were mud stains on my shoes

verb

To leave a mark on something that is difficult to remove, or to become colored or spoiled by a mark

Usage examples:

[ t ] strawberry juice stained my shirt., [ i ] this carpet is practical because it doesn’t stain e…

verb

Describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval.

Usage examples:

The institution was stigmatized as a last resort for the destitute

verb

To make someone feel that he or she is not respected

Usage examples:

Gabrielle felt stigmatized in math class because she was not seen as one of “the smart kids.”

noun

A long, thin line or mark of a different substance or colour from its surroundings.

Usage examples:

A streak of oil

verb

Cover (a surface) with streaks.

Usage examples:

Tears streaking her face, cynthia looked up

noun

A mark of a color that is different from what surrounds it, or a thin strip of light

Usage examples:

Streaks of gray and black colored the marble., the comet appeared as a dazzling streak in the sky.,…

verb

Damage the purity or integrity of.

Usage examples:

They were outraged that anyone should sully their good name

verb

To spoil something that is pure or someone's perfect reputation

Usage examples:

His reputation, he said, had been unfairly sullied by half-truths and innuendos., no speck of dirt …

noun

A trace of a bad or undesirable substance or quality.

Usage examples:

The lingering taint of creosote

verb

Contaminate or pollute (something).

Usage examples:

The air was tainted by fumes from the cars

noun

The perineum.

verb

Lose or cause to lose lustre, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture.

Usage examples:

Silver tarnishes too easily

noun

Dullness of colour; loss of brightness.

Usage examples:

Silver can be oxidized to give the effect of tarnish, and this coloration was popular in europe and…

verb

(of metal surfaces) to become less bright or a different color

Usage examples:

[ i ] silver tarnishes easily., [ t ] the scandal has tarnished the agency’s reputation.

noun

A lie or false statement (often used euphemistically).

Usage examples:

They go off and tell untruths about organizations for which they worked

noun

A statement that is not true

Usage examples:

It's not the first time that the paper has been in trouble for printing untruths about people's pri…

noun

Abusively disparaging speech or writing.

Usage examples:

The widespread vilification of politicians

noun

The act of saying or writing unpleasant things about someone or something, in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of them

Usage examples:

Participants were asked whether they had experienced discrimination or vilification because of thei…

verb

Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.

Usage examples:

He has been vilified in the press

verb

To say or write unpleasant things about someone or something, in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of that person or thing

Usage examples:

He claimed he was unfairly vilified by the press.