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cry

Syllabification: (cry)
Pronunciation: /krī/

Translate cry | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of cry

verb (cries, crying, cried)

[no object]
  • shed tears, especially as an expression of distress or pain:don’t cry—it’ll be all right [with object]:you’ll cry tears of joy
  • shout or scream, especially to express one’s fear, pain, or grief:the little girl fell down and cried for her mommy
  • say something in an excited or anguished tone of voice:“Where will it end?” he cried out
  • (of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call:the wild birds cried out over the water
  • [with object] (of a hawker) proclaim (wares) for sale in the street.

noun (plural cries)

  • a spell of weeping:I still have a cry, sometimes, when I realize that my mother is dead
  • a loud inarticulate shout or scream expressing a powerful feeling or emotion:a cry of despair
  • a distinctive call of a bird or other animal.
  • a loud excited utterance of a word or words:there was a cry of “Silence!”
  • the call of a hawker selling wares on the street.
  • an urgent appeal or entreaty:fund-raisers have issued a cry for help
  • a demand or opinion expressed by many people:peace became the popular cry

Phrases

cry one's eyes (or heart) out

weep bitterly and at length.

cry for the moon

ask for what is unattainable or impossible.

cry foul

protest strongly about a real or imagined wrong or injustice.

cry from the heart

a passionate and honest appeal or protest.

cry wolf

see wolf.

for crying out loud

informal used to express one’s irritation or impatience:why do you have to take everything so personally, for crying out loud?

in full cry

used to describe hounds baying in keen pursuit.

it's no use crying over spilt (or spilled) milk

see milk.

Phrasal Verbs

cry someone/something down

dated disparage or belittle someone or something.

cry off

informal go back on a promise or fail to keep to an arrangement:we were going to Spain together and he cried off at the last moment

cry out for

demand as a self-evident requirement or solution:the present system cries out for reform

cry someone/something up

dated praise or extol someone or something.

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'ask for earnestly or loudly'): from Old French crier (verb), cri (noun), from Latin quiritare 'raise a public outcry', literally 'call on the Quirites (Roman citizens) for help'

cry in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cry in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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