SMEAR

I. noun Etymology: Middle English smere, from Old English smeoru; akin to Old High German smero grease and probably to Old Irish smiur marrow Date: before 12th century 1. a viscous or sticky substance, a spot made by or as if by an unctuous or adhesive substance, material ~ed on a surface (as of a microscopic slide), a usually unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a person or organization, II. transitive verb Date: before 12th century 1. to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive ; daub , to spread over a surface, 2. to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by ~ing, sully , besmirch , to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by ~ing, ~er noun