English Dictionary

GRINNING

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does grinning mean? 

GRINNING (noun)
  The noun GRINNING has 1 sense:

1. a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusementplay

  Familiarity information: GRINNING used as a noun is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


GRINNING (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

grin; grinning; smile; smiling

Hypernyms ("grinning" is a kind of...):

facial expression; facial gesture (a gesture executed with the facial muscles)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "grinning"):

simper (a silly self-conscious smile)

smirk (a smile expressing smugness or scorn instead of pleasure)

Derivation:

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


 Context examples 


Three men from a neighboring tent came out and looked on, grinning and winking at one another.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“He’s gone to his room early, sir, seein’ that he had some very partic’lar business to-morrow mornin’,” said the landlord, grinning.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“So 'tis, sir, so 'tis, sir,” said Ham, grinning.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

John, when I turned to him, was grinning from ear to ear.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Similar were the donations from other grinning sailors.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my elbow.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The sailors now crowded boldly aft, grinning and shuffling, to watch the pummelling of the hated Cockney.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He lay upon his back, his face upturned, with his white teeth grinning through his short, black beard.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For she is not a grinning devil now—not any more a foul Thing for all eternity.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A grinning red face turned once more into a pink oval, fringed with gingery fluff; the interview was at an end.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"April showers bring May flowers." (English proverb)

"With all things and in all things, we are relatives." (Native American proverb, Sioux)

"The dogs may bark but the caravan moves on." (Arabic proverb)

"Cover your candle, it will light more." (Egyptian proverb)



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