I. ˈblər+V -ər.; ˈblə̄,+V -ər. also -ə̄r noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps akin to Middle English bleren to blear
1. : a moral stain or blot : blemish
these blurs are too apparent in his life — John Milton
2. : a smear or stain that obscures but does not efface (as one made with ink on paper) : blot
the letter was full of blurs
3.
a. : a vague, dim, or confused appearance : indistinctness
the blur of spring foliage in the southeast — Ellen Glasgow
b. : something seen or perceived as vague or lacking definite outline
picked up his book and pretended to read, turning the pages and staring at a dim blur of words — Josephine Johnson
4. : an indistinct somewhat confused sound : hum
his voice came clearly through the blur of engines — Vincent McHugh
II. verb
( blurred ; blurred ; blurring ; blurs )
transitive verb
1. : to obscure, soil, or blemish by smearing (as with ink) : smear
his damp fingers blurred the manuscript
2. : sully , stain , blot
his reputation was blurred
: blemish
an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty — Shakespeare
3. : to make dim, indistinct, or vague in outline or character
the needs of association blurred the peculiarities among Dane and Swede and Norwegian — Oscar Handlin
with memory blurring out all but the high light — Ernest Beaglehole
4. : to make dim, imperfect, or confused (as the senses or mental faculties) : dim , darken
in her nineties time had begun to blur her senses — W.A.White
intransitive verb
1. : to make blurs
the moths tapped and blurred at the window screen — R.P.Warren
2. : to become vague, indistinct, or indefinite : dim
the distinctions of politics in both countries tend to blur — Frank Gorrell