leer
pronunciation
How to pronounce leer in British English:
UK [lɪə(r)]
How to pronounce leer in American English:
US [lɪr]
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- Noun:
- a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
- a suggestive or sneering look or grin
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- Verb:
- look suggestively or obliquely; look or gaze with a sly, immodest, or malign expression
Word Origin
- leer (v.)
- "to look obliquely" (now usually implying "with a lustful or malicious intent"), 1520s, probably from Middle English noun ler "cheek," from Old English hleor "the cheek, the face," from Proto-Germanic *khleuzas "near the ear," from *kleuso- "ear," from PIE root *kleu- "to hear" (see listen). The notion is probably of "looking askance" (compare figurative development of cheek). Related: Leered; leering.
- leer (n.)
- 1590s, from leer (v).
Example
- 1. By one james leer , junior lit major .
- 2. Gotta go . I think I may have to rescue james leer .
- 3. Fu leer made this direct criticism of karzai .
- 4. He looked at her with an evil leer .
- 5. He gave a hideous , drunken leer in her direction .