leer

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /lɪr/ UK /lɪə/ See IPA manual

Homophones

lear /lɪr/

Meanings

1

verb
to look in a lustful, sly, or malicious way

He began to leer at the women across the bar.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to look in a lustful, sly,... ogle gloat smirkgawkstare

Word family

Derived forms leeringleeringly

Related forms leery

Simplified etymology

Leer, meaning to look in a lecherous way, is recorded from the mid-16th century. It comes from Old English hleor, meaning “cheek,” and is related to leery and lairy.

Etymology

Probably from Old English hlēor ('cheek, face'), the verb originally meaning 'to look sideways' (as over one's cheek). Of uncertain development but generally traced to this Germanic source.

hlēor Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# leer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /lɪr/
**IPA (UK):** /lɪə/

## Meanings
1. to look in a lustful, sly, or malicious way

## Examples
- He began to leer at the women across the bar.

## Synonyms
- ogle
- gloat
- smirk
- gawk
- stare

## Derived Forms
- leering
- leeringly

## Related Forms
- leery

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: hlēor

## Etymology
Probably from Old English hlēor ('cheek, face'), the verb originally meaning 'to look sideways' (as over one's cheek). Of uncertain development but generally traced to this Germanic source.

## AI Etymology
Leer probably from Old English hlēor ('cheek, face'), the verb originally meaning 'to look sideways' (as over one's cheek). Of uncertain development but generally traced to this Germanic source. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a verb and noun, it means "to look in a lustful, sly, or malicious way", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Old English hlēor. Derivative forms include leering, leeringly; related words include leery.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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