Meaning
8 sensesA significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.
lüsterner Blick, anzügliches Grinsen
косо́й взглядkosój vzgljad
An arch or affected glance or cast of countenance.
(UK, dialectal)The flank or loin.
(obsolete)The cheek.
(obsolete)The face.
(obsolete)One's appearance; countenance.
(obsolete)Complexion; hue; colour.
(obsolete)Flesh; skin.
- a suggestive or sneering look or grin
- a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
Examples
4 sentencesLook at the leer on Tom's face.
Is that a smile or a leer?
She caught him leering at the waitress.
A second look may be flattering; after that, things go downhill: first to staring, then to ogling, finally to frankly leering.
Translations
2 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Exact development uncertain, but apparently from a verb *leer (“to make a face, look sidewExact development uncertain, but apparently from a verb *leer (“to make a face, look sideways”), from leer (“cheek, face, profile”).
From Middle English ler, leor (“face, cheek”), from Old English hlēor (“face, cheek, profile”), from Proto-West Germanic *hleuʀ, from Proto-Germanic *hleuzą (“ear, cheek”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlews- (“temple of the forehead, cheek”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (“to hear”). Cognate with Scots lire, lere (“face, appearance, complexion”), Dutch lier (“cheek”), Swedish lyra (“pout”), Norwegian lia (“hillside”), Icelandic hlýr (“the face, cheek, countenance”). Related to Old English hlyst (“sense of hearing, listening”) and hlysnan (“to listen”). More at list, listen.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: leersSynonyms
1 synonyms- a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls:sneer