kraɪ v. & n. --v. (cries, cried) 1 intr. (often foll. by out)
make a
loud or
shrill sound,
esp. to express
pain,
grief,
etc., or to
appeal for help. 2 a intr. shed tears;
weep. b tr. shed (tears). 3 tr. (often foll. by out)
say or
exclaim loudly or excitedly. 4 intr. (of an
animal, esp. a bird) make a loud
call. 5 tr. (of a hawker etc.)
proclaim (wares etc.) in
the street. --n. (pl. cries) 1 a loud
inarticulate utterance of grief, pain,
fear,
joy, etc. 2 a loud excited utterance of words. 3 an
urgent appeal or
entreaty. 4 a spell of weeping. 5 a
public demand; a
strong movement of
opinion. b a
watchword or rallying call. 6 the
natural utterance of an animal, esp. of hounds on the
scent. 7 the street-call of a hawker etc. øcry-baby a
person, esp. a
child,
who sheds tears frequently. cry down
disparage,
belittle. cry one's eyes (or heart)
out weep bitterly. cry for the
moon ask for
what is
unattainable. cry
from the
heart a
passionate appeal or
protest. cry
off colloq.
withdraw from a
promise or
undertaking. cry out for demand as a
self-evident requirement or
solution. cry
over spilt milk see MILK. cry
stinking fish disparage one's
own efforts, products, etc. cry up
praise,
extol. cry
wolf see WOLF. a
far cry 1 a long
way. 2 a
very different thing. for
crying out loud colloq. an
exclamation of
surprise or annoyance. in full cry (of hounds) in keen
pursuit. [ME f. OF
crier, cri f. L quiritare wail]
