cry
(kraɪ)
v. cried, cry•ing, v.i. 1. to utter inarticulate sounds, esp. of grief or suffering, usu. with tears.
2. to shed tears, with or without sound; weep.
3. to call loudly; shout (sometimes fol. by out).
4. to manifest urgent need for attention (often fol. by out): decaying streets that cry out for repair.
5. (of an animal) to give forth a vocal sound or characteristic call.
v.t. 6. to utter loudly; call out.
7. to announce publicly: to cry one's wares.
8. to beg or plead for: to cry mercy.
9. to bring (oneself) to a specified state by weeping: to cry oneself to sleep.
10. cry down, to disparage; belittle.
11. cry off, to break a promise, agreement, etc.
12. cry up, to praise; extol.
n. 13. the act or sound of crying; a shout, scream, or wail.
14. a fit of weeping.
15. the utterance or call of an animal.
16. an entreaty; appeal.
17. a political or party slogan.
19. (in fox hunting)
a. a continuous baying of a hound or a pack in following a scent.
b. a pack of hounds.
20. Archaic. an oral proclamation or announcement.
Idioms: 1. a far cry, a. a long way.
b. altogether different.
2. cry havoc, to warn of danger or disaster.
3. cry over spilled milk, to regret what cannot be changed or undone.
[1175–1225; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French crier < Vulgar Latin *crītāre, for Latin quirītāre to make a public outcry; associated by folk etym. with Quirītēs the citizens of Rome]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.