Smear vs Slur - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between smear and slur

is that smear is to spread (a substance, especially one that colours or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing while slur is to insult or slight.

As nouns the difference between smear and slur

is that smear is a mark made by smearing while slur is an insult or slight.

smear

English

Verb

(en verb)

To spread (a substance, especially one that colours or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing.

The artist smeared paint over the canvas in broad strokes.

To have a substance smeared on (a surface).

She smeared her lips with lipstick.

To damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about an individual, their statements, or their actions.

''The opposition party attempted to smear the candidate by spreading incorrect and unverifiable rumors about their personal behavior.

To become spread by smearing.

The paint is still wet — don't touch it or it will smear .

To climb without using footholds, using the friction from the shoe to stay on the wall.

Synonyms

* spread * (have a substance smeared on) coat, cover, layer

Derived terms

* smearer

Noun

(en noun)

A mark made by smearing.

This detergent cleans windows without leaving smears .

(medicine) A Pap smear.

I'm going to the doctor's this afternoon for a smear .

A false attack.

A maneuver in which the shoe is placed onto the holdless rock, and the friction from the shoe keeps it in contact

A rough glissando in jazz music.

Synonyms

* (mark) streak * (Pap smear) Pap smear, Pap test

Derived terms

* cervical smear * smear campaign * smear case

Anagrams

* * * * English ergative verbs

slur

English

Noun

(en noun)

An insult or slight.

(music) A set of notes that are played legato, without separate articulation.

(music) The symbol indicating a legato passage, written as an arc over the slurred notes (not to be confused with a tie).

(obsolete) A trick or deception.

In knitting machines, a device for depressing the sinkers successively by passing over them.

Verb

(slurr)

To insult or slight.

(Tennyson)

To run together; to articulate poorly.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2014-04-21, volume=411, issue=8884, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Subtle effects , passage=Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese, a silvery metal, began to totter, slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated.}}

(label) To play legato or without separate articulation; to connect (notes) smoothly.

(Busby)

To soil; to sully; to contaminate; to disgrace.

(Cudworth)

To cover over; to disguise; to conceal; to pass over lightly or with little notice.

* (John Dryden) (1631-1700)

With periods, points, and tropes, he slurs his crimes.

To cheat, as by sliding a die; to trick.

* 1662 , , (Hudibras)

to slur men of what they fought for

To blur or double, as an impression from type; to mackle.

Derived terms

* slur over