smear
smear /sm'ɪər/ (smears smearing smeared)
1 [VERB] V n with n, V n prep
If you smear a surface with an oily or sticky substance or smear the substance onto the surface, you spread a layer of the substance over the surface.
My sister smeared herself with suntan oil and slept by the swimming pool...
Smear a little olive oil over the inside of the salad bowl.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A smear is a dirty or oily mark.
There was a smear of gravy on his chin.
3 [VERB] V n
To smear someone means to spread unpleasant and untrue rumours or accusations about them in order to damage their reputation. (JOURNALISM)
...an attempt to smear the director-general of the BBC.
4 [N-COUNT] oft N n
A smear is an unpleasant and untrue rumour or accusation that is intended to damage someone's reputation. (JOURNALISM)
He puts all the accusations down to a smear campaign by his political opponents.
= slur
5 [N-COUNT]
A smear or a smear test is a medical test in which a few cells are taken from a woman's cervix and examined to see if any cancer cells are present. (BRIT; in AM, use pap smear, pap test)pap smear (pap smears)
also pap test
[N-COUNT]
A pap smear is a medical test in which cells are taken from a woman's cervix and analysed to see if any cancer cells are present. (AM; in BRIT, use smear)
1 [VERB] V n with n, V n prep
If you smear a surface with an oily or sticky substance or smear the substance onto the surface, you spread a layer of the substance over the surface.
My sister smeared herself with suntan oil and slept by the swimming pool...
Smear a little olive oil over the inside of the salad bowl.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
A smear is a dirty or oily mark.
There was a smear of gravy on his chin.
3 [VERB] V n
To smear someone means to spread unpleasant and untrue rumours or accusations about them in order to damage their reputation. (JOURNALISM)
...an attempt to smear the director-general of the BBC.
4 [N-COUNT] oft N n
A smear is an unpleasant and untrue rumour or accusation that is intended to damage someone's reputation. (JOURNALISM)
He puts all the accusations down to a smear campaign by his political opponents.
= slur
5 [N-COUNT]
A smear or a smear test is a medical test in which a few cells are taken from a woman's cervix and examined to see if any cancer cells are present. (BRIT; in AM, use pap smear, pap test)pap smear (pap smears)
also pap test
[N-COUNT]
A pap smear is a medical test in which cells are taken from a woman's cervix and analysed to see if any cancer cells are present. (AM; in BRIT, use smear)