blur
/ˈblɜː/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.55 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To make indistinct or hazy, to obscure or dim.
verb
To cause imperfection of vision in; to dim; to darken.
verb
To use a sign, image, expression, etc. sufficiently close to a trademarked one that it causes confusion between them.
Example Sentences
- "to blur a photograph (by moving the camera while taking it)"
- "As we saw in the case of Lukács, it is characteristic of this tradition to blur the distinction between foreseeing the future and creating it."
- "to blur a manuscript (by handling it while damp)"
- "His eyes are blurred with the lightning's glare."
- "Sarcasms may eclipse thine own, / But cannot blur my lost renown."
- "Then give this box focus to blur the first one: […]"
Etymology
From earlier blurre, probably an alteration of blear, from Middle English bleren, from Old English *blerian (attested in āblered (“made bare, made bald”)), from Proto-West Germanic *blaʀjan, from Proto-Germanic *blazjaną (“to make pale”), from Proto-Germanic *blasaz (“pale”). Compare Scots blore, bloar (“to blur, cover with blots”), Low German bleeroged (“blear-eyed”). More at blear.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: bleren, *blerian, *blaʀjan, *blazjaną, *blasaz
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈblɜː/
- British English: /ˈblɜː/
Usage
Inflected Forms
blurs (present, singular)
blurring (participle, present)
blurred (participle, past)
blurred (past)
blurs (plural)
more blur (comparative)
most blur (superlative)