smile

[smahyl] /smaɪl/

verb (used without object), smiled, smiling.

to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth.

to regard with favor:

Luck smiled on us that night.

to have a pleasant or agreeable appearance or aspect, as natural scenes, objects, etc.:

The landscape smiled in the sunlight.

verb (used with object), smiled, smiling.

to assume or give (a smile, especially of a given kind):

She smiled a warm and friendly smile.

to express by a smile:

to smile approval.

to bring, put, drive, etc., by or as by smiling:

to smile one's tears away.

noun

the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face.

favor or kindly regard:

fortune's smile.

a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect.

Verb phrases

10.

smile at,

to regard with pleasure or amusement, as with a smile.
to regard with mild derision:
to smile at someone's affectations.

Origin

1250-1300; Middle English smyllen (v.); cognate with Old High German smīlan, Danish smile

Related forms

smileless, adjective

smilelessly, adverb

smilelessness, noun

smiler, noun

smilingly, adverb

half-smiling, adjective

half-smilingly, adverb

outsmile, verb (used with object), outsmiled, outsmiling.

subsmile, noun

unsmiling, adjective

unsmilingly, adverb

Synonyms

1, 7. See laugh.

Antonyms

1, 7. frown.

Examples from the web for smile

Both figures look happy, but she may have a secret in her smile.
There is actually research that shows that if you smile, then you feel happy.
So if stopping for a picture or signing a book of theirs puts a smile on their face, then that makes me happy, too.
Your roommate comes back to your room with a big smile.
The strangers who are using the same sidewalk smile at us and some even say good morning.
Her enigmatic smile has seduced millions of art lovers.
He was handsome, with pale blue eyes and a gentle, gap-toothed smile.
She gave me a guilty smile as she wrapped up the leftovers for later.
In fact, throughout the interview, you can't smile too much.
Although it may have spoilt a pigeon race or two, it also put a smile on the faces of people not used to seeing the aurora.

British Dictionary definitions for smile

smile

/smaɪl/

noun

a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc

favour or blessing: the smile of fortune

an agreeable appearance

verb

(intransitive) to wear or assume a smile

(intransitive) foll by at

to look (at) with a kindly or amused expression
to look derisively (at) instead of being annoyed
to bear (troubles, etc) patiently

(intransitive; foll by on or upon) to show approval; bestow a blessing

(transitive) to express by means of a smile: she smiled a welcome

(transitive) often foll by away. to drive away or change by smiling: smile away one's tears

come up smiling, to recover cheerfully from misfortune

Derived Forms

smiler, noun
smiling, adjective
smilingly, adverb
smilingness, noun

Word Origin

C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish smila, Danish smile; related to Middle High German smielen

Word Origin and History for smile

c.1300, perhaps from Middle Low German *smilen or a Scandinavian source (e.g. Danish smile "smile," Swedish smila "smile, smirk, simper, fawn"), from Proto-Germanic *smil-, extended form of PIE root *smei- "to laugh, smile" (cf. Old English smerian "to laugh at, scorn," Old High German smieron "to smile," Latin mirus "wonderful," mirari "to wonder"). Related: Smiled; smiling.

Gradually pushed the usual Old English word, smearcian (modern smirk), into a specific, unpleasant sense. Of the eyes, from 1759. Figuratively, as indicating favor or encouragement, from c.1400. Romance, Celtic, and Slavic languages tend to use a diminutive of the word for "laugh" to mean "smile" (e.g. Latin ridere "laugh;" subridere "smile"), perhaps literally "small laugh" or "low laugh."

1560s, from smile (v.).

Slang definitions & phrases for smile

smile

Related Terms

crack a smile

Idioms and Phrases with smile

smile

In addition to the idiom beginning with smile also see: crack a smile