smut

[ smuht ]

noun

1. a particle of soot; sooty matter.
2. a black or dirty mark; smudge.
3. indecent language or publications; obscenity.
4. Plant Pathology.
   1. a disease of plants, especially cereal grasses, characterized by the conversion of affected parts into black, powdery masses of spores, caused by fungi of the order Ustilaginales.
   2. a fungus causing this disease.

verb (used with object)

, smut·ted, smut·ting.

1. to soil or smudge.

verb (used without object)

, smut·ted, smut·ting.

1. to become affected with smut, as a plant.

smut

/ smʌt /

noun

1. a small dark smudge or stain, esp one caused by soot
2. a speck of soot or dirt
3. something obscene or indecent
4. 1. any of various fungal diseases of flowering plants, esp cereals, in which black sooty masses of spores cover the affected parts
   2. any parasitic basidiomycetous fungus of the order Ustilaginales that causes such a disease
5. angling a minute midge or other insect relished by trout

verb

1. to mark or become marked or smudged, as with soot
2. to affect (grain) or (of grain) to be affected with smut
3. tr to remove smut from (grain)
4. tr to make obscene
5. intr to emit soot or smut
6. intr angling (of trout) to feed voraciously on smuts

smut

/ smŭt /

1. Any of various bacidiomycete fungi that are parasitic on plants and are distinguished by the black, powdery masses of spores that appear as sooty smudges on the affected plant parts. Smuts are parasitic chiefly on cereal grasses like corn and wheat and can cause enormous damage to crops.
2. Any of the various plant diseases caused by smuts, such as corn smut.

Derived Forms

• ˈsmuttily, adverb
• ˈsmutty, adjective
• ˈsmuttiness, noun

Other Words From

• anti·smut adjective
• un·smutted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of smut¹

First recorded in 1580–90; akin to earlier smit ( Old English smitte ), by association with smudge, smutch

Word History and Origins

Origin of smut¹

Old English smitte; related to Middle High German smitze; associated with smudge , smutch

Example Sentences

You will not believe the smut that Supreme Court justices are hoisting outside their homes.

From Slate

Or, “What if my partner judges me for writing smut?”

From New York Times

An integrity sleuth who goes by the pseudonym Smut Clyde and has not been involved in this case says many of the posts seem hypercritical, even if some raised serious issues that warrant corrections and a retraction.

From Science Magazine

Now instead of hiding your romance book behind a book cover, readers are flaunting tattoos from their favorite reads, wearing sweatshirts that mention fictional places from books and adorning their e-readers with “in my smut era” stickers.

From Seattle Times

Romance novels these days can contain real depth, portraying character growth and healthy relationship fluff as well as smut.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• erotica
• filth
• obscenity