/kruy/ , v. , cried, crying , n. , pl. cries .
v.i.
1. to utter inarticulate sounds, esp. of lamentation, grief, or suffering, usually with tears.
2. to weep; shed tears, with or without sound.
3. to call loudly; shout; yell (sometimes fol. by out ).
4. to demand resolution or strongly indicate a particular disposition: The rise in crime cried out for greater police protection.
5. to give forth vocal sounds or characteristic calls, as animals; yelp; bark.
6. (of a hound or pack) to bay continuously and excitedly in following a scent.
7. (of tin) to make a noise, when bent, like the crumpling of paper.
v.t.
8. to utter or pronounce loudly; call out.
9. to announce publicly as for sale; advertise: to cry one's wares.
10. to beg or plead for; implore: to cry mercy.
11. to bring (oneself) to a specified state by weeping: The infant cried itself to sleep.
12. cry down , to disparage; belittle: Those people cry down everyone who differs from them.
13. cry havoc . See havoc (def. 2).
14. cry off , to break a promise, agreement, etc.: We made arrangements to purchase a house, but the owner cried off at the last minute.
15. cry one's eyes or heart out , to cry excessively or inconsolably: The little girl cried her eyes out when her cat died.
16. cry over spilled or spilt milk . See milk (def. 4).
17. cry up , to praise; extol: to cry up one's profession.
n.
18. the act or sound of crying; any loud utterance or exclamation; a shout, scream, or wail.
19. clamor; outcry.
20. a fit of weeping: to have a good cry.
21. the utterance or call of an animal.
22. a political or party slogan.
23. See battle cry .
24. an oral proclamation or announcement.
25. a call of wares for sale, services available, etc., as by a street vendor.
26. public report.
27. an opinion generally expressed.
28. an entreaty; appeal.
29. Fox Hunting.
a. a pack of hounds.
b. a continuous baying of a hound or a pack in following a scent.
30. a far cry ,
a. quite some distance; a long way.
b. only remotely related; very different: This treatment is a far cry from that which we received before.
31. in full cry , in hot pursuit: The pack followed in full cry.
[ 1175-1225; (v.) ME crien crier critare for L quiritare to cry out in protest, make a public cry; associated by folk etym. with Quirites QUIRITES; (n.) cri, n. deriv. of the v. ]
Syn. 1. wail, keen, moan. 2. sob, bawl, whimper. 3. yowl, bawl, clamor, vociferate, exclaim, ejaculate, scream. CRY, SHOUT, BELLOW, ROAR refer to kinds of loud articulate or inarticulate sounds. CRY is the general word: to cry out. To SHOUT is to raise the voice loudly in uttering words or other articulate sounds: He shouted to his companions. BELLOW refers to the loud, deep cry of a bull, moose, etc., or, somewhat in deprecation, to human utterance that suggests such a sound: The speaker bellowed his answer. ROAR refers to a deep, hoarse, rumbling or vibrant cry, often of tumultuous volume: The crowd roared approval.