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REFERENCE

blur

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈbɫɝ// UK //blˈɜː// blur
  1. 1 to make or become unclear (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make something difficult to see clearly, or to become fuzzy and out of focus.

    to make or become indistinct, hazy, or lacking in sharp outlines. Often used both transitively and intransitively.

    Example

    The heavy rain started to blur the driver's view of the road ahead.

    Example

    The tears in her eyes began to blur the printed words on the page until the entire letter became unreadable.

    Usage

    Can be used for physical sight or abstract ideas like memories.
  2. 2 to make less distinct (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make the difference between two things less clear.

    to make the boundaries between two different concepts or categories less distinct.

    Example

    Modern technology often blurs the line between work life and home life.

    Example

    The new legislation effectively blurs the distinction between private contractors and full-time employees, creating significant confusion for tax purposes.

    Usage

    Frequently used with 'the lines' or 'the boundaries'.
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  1. 3 an indistinct image (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    something that you cannot see clearly because it is moving fast or is out of focus.

    a shape or area that is seen unclearly, typically due to rapid motion or optical deficiency.

    Example

    The speeding car was just a silver blur as it passed us on the highway.

    Example

    Without his glasses, the faces of the people in the front row were nothing more than a beige blur to the speaker.
  2. 4 confused or clueless (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Dialect

    feeling confused or not knowing what is happening around you.

    describing a state of being confused, slow to understand, or lacking situational awareness.

    Example

    I was so blur this morning that I tried to open my house door with my car keys.

    Example

    He is always so blur during the morning briefings that we have to explain the tasks to him twice.

    Teacher's tip

    This usage is specific to Colloquial Singaporean English (Singlish) and Malaysian English; it is not used in standard British or American English.
Origin

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.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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