v. & n.
v.tr. 1 daub or mark with a greasy or sticky substance or with something that stains. 2 blot; smudge; obscure the outline of (writing, artwork, etc.). 3 defame the character of; slander; attempt to or succeed in discrediting (a person or his name) publicly.
n. 1 the act or an instance of smearing. 2 Med. a material smeared on a microscopic slide etc. for examination. b a specimen of this. smear test = cervical smear. smearer n. smeary adj.
[ OE smierwan f. Gmc ]