blur

[ blur ]

verb (used with object)

, blurred, blur·ring.

1. to obscure or sully (something) by smearing or with a smeary substance:

   The windows were blurred with soot.

2. to obscure by making confused in form or outline; make indistinct:

   The fog blurred the outline of the car.

   Synonyms: mask, veil, darken, dim, cloud

3. to dim the perception or susceptibility of; make dull or insensible:

   The blow on the head blurred his senses.

verb (used without object)

, blurred, blur·ring.

1. to become indistinct:

   Everything blurred as she ran.

2. to make blurs.

noun

1. a smudge or smear that obscures:

   a blur of smoke.

2. a blurred condition; indistinctness:

   They could see nothing in the foggy blur.

3. something seen indistinctly:

   The ship appeared as a blur against the horizon.

blur

/ ˈblɜːd-; ˈblɜːrɪdlɪ; blɜː /

verb

1. to make or become vague or less distinct

   heat haze blurs the hills

   education blurs class distinctions

2. to smear or smudge
3. tr to make (the judgment, memory, or perception) less clear; dim

noun

1. something vague, hazy, or indistinct
2. a smear or smudge

Derived Forms

• blurredly, adverb
• ˈblurriness, noun
• ˈblurred, adjective
• ˈblurry, adjective
• ˈblurredness, noun

Other Words From

• blur·red·ly [blur, -id-lee, blurd, -], adverb
• blurred·ness noun
• blurring·ly adverb
• un·blurred adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blur¹

First recorded in 1540–50; akin to blear

Word History and Origins

Origin of blur¹

C16: perhaps variant of blear

Example Sentences

"I lost my mum when I was 15 years old and all I remember was it being quite a bit of blur at the time of organising the funeral," she told BBC Radio Somerset.

From BBC

The Liverpool teenager, on loan at Middlesbrough, was a whirling dervish, a human blur taking the fight to Croatia.

From BBC

But meta layers of surrealism are on brand for Aitken, who said he’s “really interested in that idea of, like, where the line between fiction and nonfiction gets blurred.”

From Los Angeles Times

It adds that moderators are able to customise their reviewing tools to blur graphic content.

From BBC

Emilia Lois said the day had been “kind of a blur.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• darken
• dim
• muddy
• obscure
• soften