smirch
A chirp of radiation power from an astronomical body that has a smeared appearance on…A chirp of radiation power from an astronomical body that has a smeared appearance on its plot in the time-frequency plane (usually associated with massive bodies orbiting supermassive black holes)
Meaning
3 sensesA chirp of radiation power from an astronomical body that has a smeared appearance on its plot in the time-frequency plane (usually associated with massive bodies orbiting supermassive black holes)
(archaic, countable, uncountable)Dirt, or a stain.
a blemish made by dirt
(archaic, countable, figuratively, uncountable)A stain on somebody's reputation.
Origin
From Middle English *smorchen ("to spatter, soil"; attested in besmorchid (“bespattered, sFrom Middle English *smorchen ("to spatter, soil"; attested in besmorchid (“bespattered, soiled all over”)), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a derivative of Middle English smeoren, smuren, smeren (“to smear”) or related to Middle English smotry (“sooty, grimy”). Compare also Middle English bismotered (“bespattered, soiled”), Old French esmorcher (“to torture”), Middle English smoterly, smoterlich (“besmirched”), modern English smut.
Blend of smear + chirp.
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Forms
plural: smirchesSynonyms
7 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable