grin

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A smile in which the lips are parted to reveal the teeth.

   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.

2. 2
   verb

   To smile, parting the lips so as to show the teeth.

   Why do you grin? Did I say something funny?

3. 3
   verb

   To express by grinning.

   She grinned pleasure at his embarrassment.

4. 4
   verb

   To show the teeth, like a snarling dog.

   The pangs of death do make him grin.

5. 5
   verb

   To grin as part of producing a particular facial expression, such as a smile or sneer.

   He grinned a broad smile when I told him the result.

6. 6
   noun

   a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth

7. 7
   verb

   to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl

8. 8
   noun

   A snare; a gin.

Etymology

From Middle English grin, grinne, grine, from Old English grin (“snare, noose”), of uncertain origin, but probably from the merger of Proto-West Germanic *garni and *garnī (“intestine”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *garniz, *garnō (“guts, intestine”). Related to English yarn.