leer

/lɪər/

/lɪə/

Other forms: leering; leered; leers

A leer is an unpleasant facial expression. A leer means the person doesn't like you, or even worse, does — in a creepy way.

Leer can also be used as a verb, meaning "to look at someone with a suggestive, rude, or contemptuous expression." Your sworn enemy might leer at you whenever you enter a room to express scorn and superiority. Leer derives from the Old English word hleor, meaning "the face or the cheek."

Definitions of leer

1. verb

   look suggestively or obliquely; look or gaze with a sly, immodest, or malign expression
   type of:

   look

   perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
2. noun

   a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
   synonyms: sneer

   type of:

   contempt, scorn

   open disrespect for a person or thing
3. noun

   a suggestive or sneering look or grin
   type of:

   aspect, expression, face, facial expression, look

   the feelings expressed on a person's face