smile

¹smile

verb \ˈsmī(-ə)l\

smiledsmil·ing

Definition of SMILE

intransitive verb

1

: to have, produce, or exhibit a smile

2

a : to look or regard with amusement or ridicule <smiled at his own folly — Martin Gardner>

b : to bestow approval <feeling that Heaven smiled on his labors — Sheila Rowlands>

c : to appear pleasant or agreeable

transitive verb

1

: to affect with or by smiling

2

: to express by a smile

— smil·er noun

— smil·ing·ly \ˈsmī-liŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of SMILE

1. The photographer asked us to smile for the camera.
2. She smiled when she saw him.
3. Both parents smiled their approval.

Origin of SMILE

Middle English; akin to Old English smerian to laugh, Sanskrit smayate he smiles

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SMILE

Synonyms

beam, grin

Related Words

laugh, simper; smirk, sneer

Near Antonyms

grimace; frown, glare, gloom, glower, lower (also lour), scowl; pout, sulk

²smile

noun

Definition of SMILE

1

: a facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward and which expresses especially amusement, pleasure, approval, or sometimes scorn

2

: a pleasant or encouraging appearance

— smile·less \ˈsmī(-ə)l-ləs\ adjective

Examples of SMILE

1. He greeted me with a big smile.

First Known Use of SMILE

15th century

Rhymes with SMILE

dial, file, isle, pile, spile, stile, style, tile, trial, while, wile