blear Hear it!

blear Definition

blear (blir)

adjective

  1. made dim by tears, mucus, etc.: said of eyes
  2. blurred; dim; indistinct; misty

Etymology: ME blere, watery, rheumy < the v.

transitive verb

  1. to dim (the eyes) with tears, mucus, etc.
  2. to blur (a surface or an outline)

Etymology: ME bleren, to have watery eyes, akin to Ger plärren, to bawl, cry < IE base *bhlē-, to howl, weep (of echoic orig.) > blare, bleat, L flere, to weep

blear Synonyms

blear

v.

dim, blur, obscure; see shade 2.

blear Usage Examples

Object

  • eye: His small, bleared eyes, sparkling from amidst great rolls of red fat, swept eagerly over the girl's upturned face.

Browse dictionary entries near blear

  1. ‹ bleaks
  2. ‹ bleakness
  3. ‹ bleakly
  4. ‹ bleak
  5. ‹ bleaching powder
  6. ‹ bleachers
  7. ‹ bleacherite
  8. ‹ bleacher
  9. ‹ bleach
  10. ‹ -ble
  1. bleareyed ›
  2. blearier ›
  3. bleariest ›
  4. blearily ›
  5. bleariness ›
  6. bleary ›
  7. bleary-eyed ›
  8. bleat ›
  9. bleater ›
  10. bleb ›