SMEer

Smeer is a Dutch verb meaning to spread or smear a substance on a surface. It is used when applying anything from food to ointments. In everyday language, you might say ik smeer boter op mijn brood (I spread butter on my bread) or smeer zalf op de wond (spread ointment on the wound). The form smeer can appear in imperative sentences, such as Smeer het op het brood.

Linguistically, smeren is a strong or irregular verb in Dutch, with a stem smeer- that appears in various conjugations. The word is closely related to the English verb smear, reflecting a common Germanic heritage. In many contexts smeer can also function as a noun meaning a smear or layer, though this usage is less frequent in modern Dutch and more common in broader or metaphorical language, such as describing a smear of paint.

Usage and contexts extend beyond cooking. In cosmetics and medicine, people speak of a topical smeer or smeersel, meaning a preparation intended to be spread on the skin. Industrial and mechanical contexts may use smeer to refer to lubrication or greasing of parts.

In Dutch, the term has metaphorical extensions as well. A smear campaign, for example, is referred to as smeercampagne, describing attempts to damage someone's reputation by spreading negative information. The term underscores how the literal act of spreading can carry a figurative weight.

See also: smear (cognate concept in English), smeercampagne, smeren.