n.
Pronunciation: ' kr ī
Function: verb
Inflected Form: cried ; cry · ing
Etymology: Middle English crien, from Anglo-French crier, from Latin quiritare to make a public outcry, perhaps from Quirit-, Quiris, Roman citizen
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1 : to utter loudly : SHOUT
2 archaic : BEG , BESEECH
3 : to proclaim publicly : ADVERTISE < cry their wares>
intransitive verb
1 : to call loudly : SHOUT
2 : to shed tears often noisily : WEEP , SOB
3 : to utter a characteristic sound or call
4 : to require or suggest strongly a remedy or disposition <a hundred things which cry out for planning ― Roger Burlingame>
– cry havoc : to sound an alarm
– cry over spilled milk : to express vain regrets for what cannot be recovered or undone
– cry wolf : to give alarm unnecessarily