leer

¹

[ leer ]

verb (used without object)

1. to look with a sideways or oblique glance, especially suggestive of lascivious interest or sly and malicious intent:

   Go away! I can't concentrate with you leering at me.

noun

1. a lascivious or sly look.

leer

²

[ leer ]

adjective

, British Dialect.

1. having no burden or load.
2. faint for lack of food; hungry.

leer

/ lɪə /

verb

1. intr to give an oblique, sneering, or suggestive look or grin

noun

1. such a look

Derived Forms

• ˈleering, adjectivenoun
• ˈleeringly, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of leer¹

First recorded in 1520–30; perhaps verb use of obsolete noun leer “cheek” ( Middle English leor, Old English hlēor; cognate with Old Norse hlȳr (plural))

Origin of leer²

before 1050; Middle English lere, Old English gelǣr; cognate with German leer empty

Word History and Origins

Origin of leer¹

C16: perhaps verbal use of obsolete leer cheek, from Old English hlēor

Example Sentences

She did nothing to stop him from leeringly telling one participant that she has a "beautiful voice."

From Salon

As such, Harvey’s appreciation of Sue is creepy, especially when he leers at her exercising in a skimpy outfit.

From Salon

There are T-shirts, phones, watches, furniture, clocks, slippers, tents, wallets, trading cards, eye shadow and roller skates with Garfield’s leering image.

From New York Times

In other cases, witnesses were possibly nearby, so Trump reportedly limited himself to a forced kiss or leering with harassing comments.

From Salon

She gets the funniest, meanest comebacks and holds the screen like a woman in command, even when she allows the film to leer.

From Los Angeles Times