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Smear vs Smidgen - What's the difference?

smear | smidgen |

As nouns the difference between smear and smidgen

is that smear is a mark made by smearing while smidgen is a very small quantity or amount.

As a verb smear

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

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

    smidgen

    English

    Alternative forms

    * smidge, smidgeon, smidgin

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A very small quantity or amount.
    • Would you like some more cake? — I'll have a smidgen .
    Move it a smidgen to the right.

    Usage notes

    Some cookbooks and manufacturers of kitchen measurement sets have attempted to define a smidgen' for recipes. Anything between 1/25th and 1/48th of a teaspoon may be found, 1/32nd being perhaps the most commonly used. Other commonly used measures for small amounts include tad, dash, pinch, and drop. There seems to be some consensus of tad being the largest in this set and ' smidgen being larger than a drop but smaller than a pinch.

    Synonyms

    * see * hair's breadth