noun
smudge
smuhj
noun
1
A smear or blurry mark, especially one made by dirt, ink, or makeup.
"There was a smudge of lipstick on the coffee cup."
"He wiped the smudge off the window with his sleeve."
verb
1
To smear or blur something by rubbing it, or to become blurred this way.
"Be careful not to smudge the wet paint."
"Her mascara smudged in the rain."
How to Use Smudge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA blurry mark from rubbing or smearing, or the act of causing one.
Common pairings
a smudge of ink
smudge the ink
smudge-proof
Word Forms
smudged past tense, smudges plural, smudges singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “smudge”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a _____ of lipstick on the coffee cup.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; related to the older word "smutch," meaning a smear or stain.