smile Hear it!

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smile definition

smile (smīl)

intransitive verb smiled, smiling smil′·ing

  1. to have or take on a facial expression showing usually pleasure, amusement, affection, friendliness, etc., or, sometimes, irony, derision, etc. and characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth and a sparkling of the eyes
  2. to look (at, on, or upon someone) with a pleasant expression of this kind
  3. to regard with favor or approval: with on or upon
  4. to have a favorable, pleasing, or agreeable appearance

Etymology: ME smilen, akin to Norw smile, Swed smila, prob. via MLowG *smilen < IE base *(s)mei-, to smile, be astonished > L mirus, wonderful, OE smearcian, to smile

transitive verb

  1. to express with a smile
  2. to change or affect by smiling

noun

  1. the act of smiling
  2. the facial expression made in smiling
  3. a favorable, pleasing, or agreeable appearance

Related Forms:

smile Idioms

smile away

to drive away or get rid of by a smile or smiling

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms smile idiom

smile Synonyms

smile

n.

grin, smirk, simper, pleased look, amused countenance, tender look, friendly expression, delighted look, joyous look; see also laugh.


smile

v.

beam, be gracious, look happy, look delighted, look pleased, express friendliness, express tenderness, break into a smile, look amused, smirk, simper, greet, grin; see also laugh 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

smile Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • wipe: Duncan Fletcher just can't wipe the smile off his face, and who can blame him?

Adjective modifier

  • wry: With a wry smile, she said, " Perhaps I feel that I have to prove myself in order to justify my presence.

Modifies a noun

  • makeovers: Based in Essex, Jagmail has a special interest in cosmetic dentistry, non surgical face rejuvenation and smile makeovers.

Modifying Another Word

  • sweetly: Ah, smile away sweetly now, Come on now, ooh, sweetly smile away, Yes, sir!

Noun used with modifier

  • volatility: Constructing the volatility smile is vital to backoffice revaluation.

Used with why or when

  • whenever: Her teeth now look years younger and she smiles widely whenever she can to show off her new look.
smile usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

smile quotes

When the guns begin to rattle And the men to die Does the Goddess of the Battle Smile or sigh?

-Barker, George Granville

For Cambridge people rarely smile, Being urban, squat, and packed with guile.

-Brooke, Rupert Chawner

She gave me a smile I could feel in my hip pocket.

-Chandler, Raymond

smile quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"smile." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/smile>

APA Style

smile. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/smile

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