smudge¹ / sməj/ • n. a blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something: a smudge of blood on the floor. ∎  an indistinct or blurred view or image: the low smudge of hills on the horizon.• v. [tr.] cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it: she dabbed her eyes, careful not to smudge her makeup. ∎  [intr.] become smeared when rubbed: mascaras that smudge or flake around the eyes. ∎  make blurred or indistinct: the photograph had been smudged by the photocopier and was by no means as clear as the original.DERIVATIVES: smudge·less adj.smudge² • n. a smoky outdoor fire that is lit to keep off insects or protect plants against frost.

smudge A disease that can affect onions, shallots, and leeks. Dark patches, often in the form of concentric rings, appear on the bulbs. The causal agent is the fungus Colletotrichum circinans.

smudge A disease which can affect onions, shallots, and leeks. Dark patches, often in the form of concentric rings, appear on the bulbs. The causal agent is the fungus Colletotrichum circinans.

smudge XV. of unkn. orig., but parallel to synon. smutch sb. (XVI), vb. (XVII), smooch vb. (XVII).
Hence sb. XVIII.