Grin

Pronunciation

• US enPR: grÄ­n, IPA: /gɹɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɪn

Before 1000 CE - From Middle English grinnen, from Old English grennian compare to Old High German grennan ("to mutter")

Noun

1. A smile in which the lips are parted to reveal the teeth.
• 1997, Linda Howard, Son of the Morning, Simon & Schuster, pages 364:When the ceremony was finished a wide grin broke across his face, and it was that grin she saw, relieved and happy all at once.

Full definition of grin

Verb

1. (intransitive) To smile, parting the lips so as to show the teeth.
   Why do you grin?  Did I say something funny?
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 15, ‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! … What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’
2. (transitive) To express by grinning.
   She grinned pleasure at his embarrassment.
• John Milton (1608-1674)Grinned horrible a ghastly smile.
• 1907, Robert W. Chambers, The Younger Set Chapter 4, “Mid-Lent, and the Enemy grins,” remarked Selwyn as he started for church with Nina and the children.
3. (intransitive, dated) To show the teeth, like a snarling dog.
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616)The pangs of death do make him grin.
• 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher Chapter 1, They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly.

Derived terms

Old English

Noun

1. (obsolete) A snare; a gin.
• Remedy of LoveLike a bird that hasteth to his grin.

Anagrams

• girn, NGRI, ring, Ring