smear

verb

• 1coat or mark (something) messily or carelessly with a greasy or sticky substance:his face was smeared with dirt
• [with object and adverbial] spread (a greasy or sticky substance) over something:she smeared sunblock on her skin
• messily blur the outline of (something such as writing or paint); smudge:her lipstick was smeared

• 2damage the reputation of (someone) by false accusations; slander:someone was trying to smear her by faking letters

noun

• 1a mark or streak of a greasy or sticky substance:there was an oil smear on his jacket

• 2a sample of tissue or other material taken from part of the body, spread thinly on a microscope slide for examination, typically for medical diagnosis:the smears were stained for cryptosporidium
• Britishshort for smear test.

• 3a false accusation intended to damage someone’s reputation:the popular press were indulging in unwarranted smears

• 4 Climbing an insecure foothold: soon you’re eyeballing the top, just one smear away