smear

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun slanderous defamation
  2. noun a thin tissue or blood sample spread on a glass slide and stained for cytologic examination and diagnosis under a microscope
  3. noun a blemish made by dirt

Etymology

From Middle English smeren, smerien, from Old English smerian, smyrian, smierwan (“to anoint or rub with grease, oil, etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *smirwijan, from Proto-Germanic *smirwijaną. Doublet of schmear. Cognate with Saterland Frisian smeere, Dutch smeren, Low German smeren, German schmieren.

In classic literature

Synonyms

vilification, malignment

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