Definition of 'smile'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense smiles
, present participle smiling
, past tense, past participle smiled
1. verb
4. verb
If you say that something such as fortune smiles on someone, you mean that they are lucky or successful.
[literary]
5.
See all smiles
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
smile in British English
noun
1.
a facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc, but sometimes scorn, etc
3.
verb
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
smiler (ˈsmiler) noun
smiling (ˈsmiling)
adjective
smilingly (ˈsmilingly)
adverb
smilingness (ˈsmilingness)
noun
Word origin
C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish smila, Danish smile; related to Middle High German smielenWord Frequency
smile in American English
verb intransitiveWord forms: smiled or ˈsmiling
1.
4.
to have a favorable, pleasing, or agreeable appearance
noun
7.
the act of smiling
8.
the facial expression made in smiling
9.
a favorable, pleasing, or agreeable appearance
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
smiler (ˈsmiler)
noun
smilingly (ˈsmilingly)
adverb
Word origin
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
Word Frequency
smile in American English
(smail) (verb smiled, smiling)
intransitive verb
1.
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
2.
to regard with favor
Luck smiled on us that night
noun
SYNONYMS 1, 8. See laugh.ANTONYMS 1, 8. frown.8.
the act or an instance of smiling; a smiling expression of the face
9.
favor or kindly regard
fortune's smile
10.
a pleasant or agreeable appearance, look, or aspect
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
smileless adjective
smilelessly
adverb
smilelessness
noun
smiler
noun
smilingly
adverb
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME smyllen (v.); c. OHG smīlan, Dan smile]Examples of 'smile' in a sentence
smile
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In other languages
smile
British English: smile
/smaɪl/ NOUN
A smile is the expression that you have on your face when you smile.
She gave a wry smile.
- American English: smile /ˈsmaɪl/
- Arabic: ابْتِسَامَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: sorriso
- Chinese: 微笑
- Croatian: osmijeh
- Czech: úsměv
- Danish: smil
- Dutch: glimlach
- European Spanish: sonrisa
- Finnish: hymy
- French: sourire
- German: Lächeln
- Greek: χαμόγελο
- Italian: sorriso
- Japanese: ほほ笑み
- Korean: 미소
- Norwegian: smil
- Polish: uśmiech
- European Portuguese: sorriso
- Romanian: zâmbet
- Russian: улыбка
- Latin American Spanish: sonrisa
- Swedish: leende
- Thai: รอยยิ้ม
- Turkish: gülümseme
- Ukrainian: посмішка
- Vietnamese: nụ cười
British English: smile
/smaɪl/ VERB
When you smile, the corners of your mouth curve up and you sometimes show your teeth. People smile when they are pleased or amused, or when they are being friendly.
When he saw me, he smiled and waved.
- American English: smile /ˈsmaɪl/
- Arabic: يَبْتَسِمُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: sorrir
- Chinese: 微笑
- Croatian: smiješiti se
- Czech: usmát se
- Danish: smile
- Dutch: glimlachen
- European Spanish: sonreír gozo
- Finnish: hymyillä
- French: sourire
- German: lächeln
- Greek: χαμογελώ
- Italian: sorridere
- Japanese: ほほ笑む
- Korean: 미소를 짓다
- Norwegian: smile
- Polish: uśmiechnąć się
- European Portuguese: sorrir
- Romanian: a zâmbi
- Russian: улыбаться
- Latin American Spanish: sonreír
- Swedish: le
- Thai: ยิ้ม
- Turkish: gülümsemek
- Ukrainian: посміхатися
- Vietnamese: mỉm cười
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smile
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Definition of smile from the Collins English Dictionary
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