cry

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To shed tears because you feel sad, hurt, or upset.

   She cried for hours after hearing the sad news.

2. 2
   verb

   To shout something loudly.

   "Help!" he cried as the water rose around him.

3. 3
   noun

   A loud shout, often showing a strong feeling.

   We heard a cry of joy from the next room.

4. 4
   noun

   A period of crying.

   After a good cry, she felt much better.

Common collocations

• loud cry Adjective + noun
• hear a cry Verb + noun
• give a cry Verb + noun
• desperate cry Adjective + noun
• sharp cry Adjective + noun
• suppress a cry Verb + noun
• stifle a cry Verb + noun

The verb is from Middle English crien (13th century), from Old French crier, from Vulgar Latin *crītāre, generally thought to derive from Classical Latin quirītāre (Proto-West Germanic *krītan has also been suggested as a source). The noun corresponds to Middle English cry, crie, from Old French cri, a deverbal of crier. etymology note Middle English crien eventually displaced native Middle English galen (“to cry out”) (from Old English galan), Middle English greden (“to cry out”) (from Old English grǣdan), Middle English yermen (“to bellow, mourn, lament”) (from Old English ġierman), Middle E…

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