cry definition - Dictionary

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cry

cry [ krī ]

verb (past and past participle cried, present participle cry·ing, 3rd person present singular cries)

Definition:

1. transitive and intransitive verb shed tears: to shed tears as the result of a strongly felt emotion

2. transitive and intransitive verb shout: to call or shout out loudly

3. intransitive verb zoology make distinctive sound: to make a natural high-pitched characteristic call ( refers to birds or animals )

4. transitive verb give something as reason: to plead or profess something as a reason or explanation

cry hardship

5. transitive verb announce for sale: to proclaim something publicly as being for sale ( archaic )

noun (plural cries)

Definition:

1. inarticulate sound: a loud inarticulate expression of rage, pain, or surprise

2. call of bird or animal: the natural high-pitched characteristic call of a bird or animal

3. period of weeping: an act or period of shedding tears

4. public demand: a public demand, especially an urgent one

5. hunting baying of hounds: the sound of hounds baying as they chase their quarry

6. hunting hounds: a pack of hounds

7. unifying call: a call to rally or unite

8. proclamation: an announcement or advertisement called out in public ( archaic )

[13th century. Via French crier< Latin quiritare "raise a public outcry" < Quirites "Roman citizens"]

for crying out loud! used to express annoyance, impatience, frustration, or surprise (informal)

in full cry in enthusiastic pursuit of something

Cultural Note


	Cry, the Beloved Country, a novel (1948) by South African writer Alan Paton. It tells of a black man's search for his sister and his son in Johannesburg, where he encounters the underside of life and the racial hatred that divides the country. His sister has become a prostitute and his son is condemned to death for the murder of a white farmer's son. The novel ends on a note of optimism on the issue of racial harmony, as the two fathers are reconciled.