smudge

/smʌdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · [smˈʌdʒ] /smʌdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · [smˈʌdʒ] /ˈsməj How to pronounce smudge (audio)/ (ame, mw)

smudge — noun

  • smudgesingular
  • smudgesplural

1. a small blurred dirty mark left when a finger, ink, grease, or another substance

1.名詞B2
釋義

a small blurred dirty mark left when a finger, ink, grease, or another substance rubs across a surface by accident

例句

Bao noticed a black smudge on the light switch after dinner.

pattern: a smudge on + surface

A greasy smudge from Omar's thumb marked the phone screen.

smudge from + body part

同義詞
  • mark

    the broadest word; it does not suggest a blurred or rubbed shape

  • smear

    often longer and more spread out than a smudge

  • stain

    usually soaks in and is harder to remove than a surface smudge

文法句型

a smudge on + surface

wipe + smudge + off + surface

用法筆記

A smudge is usually a small accidental mark made by a touch or rub, especially from fingers, ink, or grease. Distinguish from sense 2, which is a controlled smoky fire used outdoors.

常見錯誤

❌There was a smudge of the wall.
✅There was a smudge on the wall.
💡Use 'on' for the surface that carries the mark.

2. a slow smoky fire lit outdoors to protect crops from frost or to drive insects a

2.名詞C2
釋義

a slow smoky fire lit outdoors to protect crops from frost or to drive insects away

例句

Farmers lit smudges in the orchard before the cold night began.

light smudges to protect crops

A line of smoky smudges drifted over the orange trees at dawn.

文法句型

light a smudge

keep a smudge burning

用法筆記

This sense is technical and uncommon in everyday speech. It usually appears in farming or gardening contexts, especially when people talk about frost, insects, orchards, or fields.

常見錯誤

❌They used a smudge to cook dinner.
✅They lit a smudge to protect the trees from frost.
💡This sense is a protective smoky fire, not an ordinary cooking fire.

smudge — verb