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Smile vs Leer - What's the difference?

smile | leer |

In transitive terms the difference between smile and leer

is that smile is to express by smiling while leer is to learn.

In intransitive terms the difference between smile and leer

is that smile is to be propitious or favourable; to countenance while leer is to look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.

As nouns the difference between smile and leer

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 leer is a significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.

As verbs the difference between smile and leer

is that smile is to have (a smile) on one's face while leer is to look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.

As an adjective leer is

empty; unoccupied; clear.

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 ----

    leer

    English

    Etymology 1

    Exact development uncertain, but apparently from *. See below.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.
  • To entice with a leer or leers.
  • * (Dryden)
    • To gild a face with smiles; and leer a man to ruin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.
  • An arch or affected glance or cast of countenance.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) ler, . More at (l), (l).

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) The cheek.
    • (Holinshed)
  • (obsolete) The face.
  • (obsolete) One's appearance; countenance.
  • * Shakespeare
    • a Rosalind of a better leer than you
  • (obsolete) Complexion; hue; blee; colour.
  • (obsolete) Flesh; skin.
  • The flank or loin.

    • Anagrams

    * *

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) lere, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Empty; unoccupied; clear.
    • a leer stomach
    (Gifford)
  • Destitute; lacking; wanting.
  • Faint from lack of food; hungry.
  • Thin; faint.
  • Having no load or burden; free; without a rider.
    • a leer horse
    (Ben Jonson)
  • Lacking sense or seriousness; trifling; frivolous.
    • leer words

    Etymology 4

    From (etyl) leren, from (etyl) . Related to (etyl) {{m, ang, l?r, , lore, learning, science, art of teaching, preaching, doctrine, study, precept, exhortation, advice, instigation, history, story, cunning }}. See lore.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To teach.
  • To learn.

    • Etymology 5

    See (lehr)

    Noun

    (en noun)
    • English intransitive verbs ----