cries

Variant of cry

cry definition

cry (krī)

intransitive verb cried, crying cry′·ing

  1. to make a loud vocal sound or utterance; call out, as for help; shout
  2. to sob and shed tears, in expressing sorrow, pain, grief, etc.; weep
    1. to plead or clamor (for)
    2. to show or suggest a great need (for) problems crying for solution
  3. to utter its characteristic call: said of an animal

Etymology: ME crien < OFr crier < L quiritare, to wail, shriek (var. of quirritare, to squeal like a pig < *quis, echoic of a squeal); assoc. in ancient folk etym. with L Quirites, Roman citizens (as if meaning “to call the Quirites,” implore their help)

transitive verb

  1. to plead or beg for to cry quarter
  2. to utter loudly; shout; exclaim
  3. to call out (wares for sale, services offered, etc.); announce publicly
  4. to bring into a specified condition by crying to cry oneself asleep

noun pl. cries

  1. a loud vocal sound expressing pain, anger, fright, joy, etc.
  2. any loud utterance; shout
  3. an announcement or advertisement called out publicly
  4. an urgent appeal; plea
  5. popular report; rumor; rallying call or battle cry; watchword
  6. the current opinion or fashion
  7. clamor of the people; public outcry
  8. a slogan
  9. a sobbing and shedding of tears; fit of weeping
  10. the characteristic vocal sound of an animal
    1. the baying of hounds in the chase
    2. a pack of hounds

Etymology: ME & OFr cri < the v.

cry Idioms

a far cry

  1. a great distance; long way
  2. a thing much different

cry down

to belittle; disparage

cry in one's beer

Informal to lament or complain in a maudlin manner

cry off

to withdraw from an agreement or undertaking

cry one's eyes out

to weep much and bitterly

cry out

  1. to shout; yell
  2. to complain loudly

cry up

to shout praise of; praise highly

in full cry

in eager pursuit: said of a pack of hounds

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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