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grin - 8 dictionary results

grin

1  [grin] verb, grinned, grin⋅ning, noun
Use grin in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to smile broadly, esp. as an indication of pleasure, amusement, or the like.
2. to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth, as a snarling dog or a person in pain.
3. to show or be exposed through an opening, crevice, etc.
–verb (used with object)
4. to express or produce by grinning: The little boy grinned his approval of the gift.
–noun
5. a broad smile.
6. the act of producing a broad smile.
7. the act of withdrawing the lips and showing the teeth, as in anger or pain.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME grinnen, grennen, OE grennian; c. OHG grennan to mutter

Related forms:
grinner, noun
grin⋅ning⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. See laugh.

grin

2  [grin] noun, verb, grinned, grin⋅ning.
–noun
1. Chiefly Scot. a snare like a running noose.
–verb (used with object)
2. to catch in a nooselike snare.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME grin(e), OE grin, gryn
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To grin
grin   (grĭn)   
v.   grinned, grin·ning, grins

v.   intr.
To smile broadly, often baring the teeth, as in amusement, glee, embarrassment, or other strong emotion.
v.   tr.
To express with a grin: I grinned my approval.
n.  
  1. The act of grinning.
  2. The facial expression produced by grinning.

[Middle English grennen, to grimace, from Old English grennian.]
grin'ner n., grin'ning·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Grin

Grin\ (gr[i^]n), n. [AS. grin.] A snare; a gin. [Obs.]

Like a bird that hasteth to his grin. --Remedy of Love.

Grin

Grin\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Grinned (gr[i^]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Grinning.] [OE. grinnen, grennen, AS. grennian, Sw. grina; akin to D. grijnen, G. greinen, OHG. grinan, Dan. grine. [root]35. Cf. Groan.]

1. To show the teeth, as a dog; to snarl.

2. To set the teeth together and open the lips, or to open the mouth and withdraw the lips from the teeth, so as to show them, as in laughter, scorn, or pain.

The pangs of death do make him grin. --Shak.

Grin

Grin\, v. t. To express by grinning.

Grinned horrible a ghastly smile. --Milton.

Grin

Grin\, n. The act of closing the teeth and showing them, or of withdrawing the lips and showing the teeth; a hard, forced, or sneering smile. --I. Watts.

He showed twenty teeth at a grin. --Addison.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : grin
Spanish: sonreír abiertamente, sonreír de oreja a oreja,
German: grinsen,
Japanese: にやりと笑う
More Translations »

grin 
O.E. grennian "show the teeth" (in pain or anger), common Gmc. (cf. O.N. grenja "to howl," grina "to grin;" Du. grienen "to whine;" Ger. greinen "to cry"), from PIE base *ghrei- "be open." Sense of "bare the teeth in a broad smile" is c.1480, perhaps via the notion of "forced or unnatural smile." the noun is first attested 1635.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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