cheer

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /t͡ʃɪə(ɹ)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /t͡ʃɪɹ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

From Middle English chere, from Old French chere, from Old French chiere, from Late Latin cara.

cheer (countable and uncountable, plural cheers)

1. (uncountable) A cheerful attitude; gaiety; mirth. [from 14^thc.]
   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare

     I have not that alacrity of spirit, / Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.

2. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment.

   a table loaded with good cheer

   • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:

     “ […] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like
       Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer. […].”

3. A cry expressing joy, approval or support such as "hurray". [from 18^thc.]

   A cheer rose from the crowd.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Tennyson

     Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street.

4. A chant made in support of a team at a sports event.
5. (obsolete) One's facial expression or countenance. [13^th-19^thc.]
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter viij, in Le Morte Darthur, book XIII:

     And soo on the morne they were alle accorded that they shold departe eueryche from other / And on the morne they departed with wepynge chere / and euery knyȝt took the way that hym lyked best

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 50, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], book I, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:

     Heraclitus taking pitie and compassion of the very same condition of ours, was continually seene with a sad, mournfull, and heavie cheere [transl. visage], and with teares trickling downe his blubbered eyes.

   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.7:

     ‘thorough evill rest of this last night, / Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be; / That by your change of cheare is easie for to see.’

6. (archaic) One's attitude, mood. [from 14^thc.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Mark VI:

     And anon he talked with them, and sayde unto them: be of good chere, it is I, be not afrayed.

   • Holinshed

     The parents […] fled away with heavy cheer.

• See also Thesaurus:applause

• Bronx cheer

cheer (third-person singular simple present cheers, present participle cheering, simple past and past participle cheered)

1. (transitive) To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.

   We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea.

2. (transitive) To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Dryden

     The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered.

3. (transitive, intransitive) To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.

   The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.

   The crowd cheered the athletes.

• boo

Clipping of cheerleading.

cheer (uncountable)

1. Cheerleading.

   I'm going to wear my new cheer shoes at cheer today.

   • 1999, Jim Lord and Chris Calvert. Cheerleading: Where Does Your Gym Fit In?.

     ...[P]erspective [sic] gym cheer programs must address how to support a cheer program while maintaining appropriate and safe skill progressions.

   • 2000, Linda Villarosa. Cheerleading Changes, and Injuries Increase in The New York Times.

     Last year, more than 75,000 high school participants took part in cheerleading competitions, and the National Federation of State High School Associations says that "competitive cheer" is the fastest growing sport for girls.

   • 2018, Chad Thompson. Iowa Central cheer team is tops at national competition in The Messenger.

     The Iowa Central Community College cheer team has achieved something no other college in Iowa has before.

• reech