to make (eyes or sight) dim with or as if with tears; blur
adjective
2. a less common word for bleary
Word origin
C13: blere to make dim; related to Middle High German blerre blurred vision
blear in American English
(blɪr)
adjective
1.
made dim by tears, mucus, etc.
said of eyes
2.
blurred; dim; indistinct; misty
verb transitive
3.
to dim (the eyes) with tears, mucus, etc.
4.
to blur (a surface or an outline)
Word origin
ME blere, watery, rheumy < bleren, to have watery eyes, akin to Ger plärren, to bawl, cry < IE base *bhlē-, to howl, weep (of echoic orig.) > blare, bleat, L flere, to weep
Examples of 'blear' in a sentence
blear
They stagger in, are punched upright, and indoors now in harsh electric light blear eyes inspect them.