blear

[ bleer ]
See synonyms for: blearblearedblearerblearest on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to make dim, as with tears or inflammation: a biting wind that bleared the vision.

adjective
  1. (of the eyes) dim from tears.

  2. dim; indistinct.

noun
  1. a blur; cloudiness; dimness: She was concerned about the recent blear in her vision.

Origin of blear

1
1250–1300; Middle English bleri, blere (v.), blere (adj.) < ?

Other words from blear

  • blear·ed·ness [bleer-id-nis], /ˈblɪər ɪd nɪs/, noun

Words Nearby blear

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use blear in a sentence

  • But the whole place has through the day-time a blear-eyed, a drunk-over-night appearance.

  • And the blear-eyed merchant wrote and sealed and filed and took no notice of his customers.

  • It is this that makes them blear-eyed, and even uglier than Nature intended them to be.

    The Land of Fire | Mayne Reid
  • Even the stouthearted Captain and the faithful mate, blear-eyed and haggard from loss of sleep, were filled with wonder.

    West Wind Drift | George Barr McCutcheon
  • A blear-eyed, unsteady individual, whom Bart recognized as a member of the Sharp Corner contingent, advanced to the table.

British Dictionary definitions for blear

blear

/ (blɪə) archaic /


verb
  1. (tr) to make (eyes or sight) dim with or as if with tears; blur

adjective
  1. a less common word for bleary

Origin of blear

1
C13: blere to make dim; related to Middle High German blerre blurred vision

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012