Grin vs. Smile: What's the Difference?

Table of Contents
  • Smile

    A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a “Duchenne smile”. Smiles performed without the eye contraction may be perceived as insincere.

    Among humans, smiling is an expression denoting pleasure, sociability, happiness, joy or amusement. It is distinct from a similar but usually involuntary expression of anxiety known as a grimace. Although cross-cultural studies have shown that smiling is a means of communication throughout the world, there are large differences among different cultures, with some using smiles to convey confusion or embarrassment.

Wikipedia
  • Grin (noun)

    A smile in which the lips are parted to reveal the teeth.

  • Grin (noun)

    A snare; a gin.

  • Grin (verb)

    To smile, parting the lips so as to show the teeth.

    “Why do you grin?”

    “Did I say something funny?”

  • Grin (verb)

    To express by grinning.

    “She grinned pleasure at his embarrassment.”

  • Grin (verb)

    To show the teeth, like a snarling dog.

  • Grin (verb)

    To grin as part of producing a particular facial expression, such as a smile or sneer.

    “He grinned a broad smile when I told him the result.”

    “He grinned a cruel sneer when I begged him to stop.”

  • Smile (noun)

    A facial teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement or anxiety.

    “She’s got a perfect smile.”

    “He has a sinister smile.”

    “She had a smile on her face.”

    “He always puts a smile on my face.”

  • Smile (verb)

    To have (a smile) on one’s face.

    “When you smile, the whole world smiles with you.”

    “I don’t know what he’s smiling about.”

    “She smiles a beautiful smile.”

  • Smile (verb)

    To express by smiling.

    “to smile consent, or a welcome”

  • Smile (verb)

    To express amusement, pleasure, or love and kindness.

  • Smile (verb)

    To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy.

    “The sun smiled down from a clear summer sky.”

  • Smile (verb)

    To be propitious or favourable; to countenance.

    “The gods smiled on his labours.”

Wiktionary
  • Grin (verb)

    smile broadly

    “Dennis appeared, grinning cheerfully”

  • Grin (verb)

    express with a broad smile

    “‘My word,’ grinned the delighted man”

    “she grinned her approval”

  • Grin (verb)

    grimace grotesquely so as to reveal the teeth

    “the skull grinned back at him, its eye sockets dark and hollow”

  • Grin (noun)

    a broad smile

    “a silly grin”

Oxford Dictionary

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