blur
UK[blɜː(r)]US[blɜːr]
v
To make something difficult to see or remember clearly
n
Something that you cannot see or remember clearly
Etymology
The word 'blur' first appeared in English in the mid-16th century. Its origin is obscure but it is thought to be an imitative or expressive coinage, perhaps related to 'blear', meaning to dim or make watery (as with the eyes). The core concept has always been one of indistinctness, whether of sight or, by later extension, of memory or boundaries. This direct, sensory root meaning has remained stable, evolving from describing smeared vision to encompassing any lack of sharp definition.
Analysis
The word 'blur' is a simplex word of uncertain origin, likely onomatopoeic or imitative. It functions as a unified root.
Examples
The rain on the window blurred the lights of the city into streaks of color.
For her, the events of that night are just a blur.
The line between friend and colleague has become blurred.