I. ˈsmir 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. : 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 smear
3. : a usually unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a person or organization — often used attributively
a smear campaign
a smear job
II. transitive verb
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : to overspread with something unctuous, viscous, or adhesive : daub
smear ed the paper with glue
b. : to spread over a surface
2.
a. : to stain, smudge, or dirty by or as if by smearing
b. : sully , besmirch ; specifically : to vilify especially 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 noun