leer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
    sneer.
  2. noun a suggestive or sneering look or grin
  3. verb look suggestively or obliquely; look or gaze with a sly, immodest, or malign expression
    • The men leered at the young women on the beach

WordNet

Leer transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To learn. Obs. See Lere, to learn.
Leer adjective
Etymology
OE. lere; akin to G. leer, OHG. & OS. lari.
Definitions
Obs. or Prov. Eng.
  1. Empty; destitute; wanting; as: (a) Empty of contents. "A leer stomach." Gifford. (b) Destitute of a rider; and hence, led, not ridden; as, a leer horse. B. Jonson. (c) Wanting sense or seriousness; trifling; trivolous; as, leer words.
Leer noun
Definitions
  1. An oven in which glassware is annealed.
Leer noun
Etymology
OE.lere cheek, face, look, AS. hleór cheek, face; akin to OS. hlear, hlior, OD. lier, Icel. hlr.
Definitions
  1. The cheek. Obs. Holinshed.
  2. complexion; aspect; appearance. Obs.
    A Rosalind of a better leer than you. Shak.
  3. A distorted expression of the face, or an indirect glance of the eye, conveying a sinister or immodest suggestion.
    With jealous leer malign Eyed them askance. Milton.
    She gives the leer of invitation. Shak.
    Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer. Pope.
Leer intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Leered ; present participle & verbal noun Leering
Definitions
  1. To look with a leer; to look askance with a suggestive expression, as of hatred, contempt, lust, etc. ; to cast a sidelong lustful or malign look.
    I will leer him as a'comes by. Shak.
    The priest, above his book, Leering at his neighbor's wife. Tennyson.
Leer transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To entice with a leer, or leers; as, to leer a man to ruin. Dryden.

Webster 1913