[smear] n [ME smere, fr. OE smeoru; akin to OHG smero grease and prob. to OIr smiur marrow] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a viscous or sticky substance b: a spot made by or as if by an unctuous or adhesive substance
2: material smeared on a surface (as of a microscopic slide); also: a preparation made by smearing material on a surface "a vaginal ~"
3: a usu. unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a person or organization
[2]smear vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive: daub b: to spread over a surface
2. a: to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing b: sully, besmirch; specif: to vilify esp. by secretly and maliciously spreading grave charges and imputations
3: to obliterate, obscure, blur, blend, wipe out, or defeat by or as if by smearing -- smear.er n