What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Smile vs Blush - What's the difference?

smile | blush |

In transitive terms the difference between smile and blush

is that smile is to express by smiling while blush is to express or make known by blushing.

In intransitive terms the difference between smile and blush

is that smile is to be propitious or favourable; to countenance while blush is to have a warm and delicate colour, like some roses and other flowers.

As nouns the difference between smile and blush

is that smile is a facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement or anxiety while blush is an act of blushing.

As verbs the difference between smile and blush

is that smile is to have (a smile) on one's face while blush is to redden in the face from shame, excitement or embarrassment.

smile

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement or anxiety.
  • :
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady.
  • *
  • *:Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile? ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * archaic smile * besmile * Chelsea smile * Glasgow smile * smileless * smilet * smiley * vertical smile

    Verb

    (smil)
  • (ambitransitive) To have (a smile) on one's face.
  • * , chapter=7
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“[…] This is Mr. Churchill, who, as you are aware, is good enough to come to us for his diaconate, and, as we hope, for much longer; and being a gentleman of independent means, he declines to take any payment.” Saying this Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly.}}
  • To express by smiling.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.}}
  • To express amusement, pleasure, or love and kindness.
  • * Byron
    • When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled .
  • To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy.
    • The sun smiled down from a clear summer sky.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • The desert smiled , / And paradise was opened in the wild.
  • To be propitious or favourable; to countenance.
    • The gods smiled on his labours.

    Derived terms

    * smiler

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    blush

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) blyscan . Cognate with Old Norse .

    Noun

    (es)
  • An act of blushing.
  • (uncountable) A sort of makeup, frequently a powder, used to redden the cheeks. Confer rouge.
  • A color between pink and cream.
    • Derived terms
    * blush is off the rose * at first blush

    Verb

    (es)
  • To redden in the face from shame, excitement or embarrassment.
  • * Milton
    • To the nuptial bower / I led her blushing like the morn.
  • * 1912 , Stratemeyer Syndicate, Baseball Joe on the School Nine Chapter 1
    • But Tommy was bashful, and the attention he had thus drawn upon himself made him blush . He was a timid lad and he shrank away now, evidently fearing Shell.
  • To become red.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The sun of heaven, methought, was loth to set, / But stayed, and made the western welkin blush .
  • To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make roseate.
  • * Shakespeare
    • To blush and beautify the cheek again.
  • To express or make known by blushing.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I'll blush you thanks.
  • To have a warm and delicate colour, like some roses and other flowers.
  • * T. Gray
    • Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.
    Synonyms
    * flushing * reddening

    Related terms

    * erythrophobia (fear of blushing)

    Etymology 2

    1486 Dame Julia Barnes. The Book of St Albans.

    Noun

    (es)
  • The collective noun for a group of boys.
    • A blush of boys.
    Usage notes
    This is probably a fanciful expression and is not in common use.
    References
    * Noun sense: 1986 Oxford Reference Dictionary: Appendix

    Anagrams

    * ----