• (RP) IPA: /t͡ʃɪə(ɹ)/
• (GA) IPA: /t͡ʃɪɹ/

cheer

1. (uncountable) A cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood. [from 14^thc.]
   • c. 1593, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene iii]:

     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

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

   A cheer rose from the crowd.

   • 1864, Alfred Tennyson, “A Welcome to Alexandria. March 7, 1863.”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], OCLC 879237670 ↗, page 164 ↗:

     Welcome her, thunders of fort and of fleet! / 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, [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/MaloryWks2/1:15.8?rgn=div2;view=fulltext 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 {{transterm

   • 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, Gospel of Mark VI:

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

   • The parents […] fled away with heavy cheer.

• See also Thesaurus:applause

• Italian: buonumore
• Spanish: alegría

• Spanish: hurra

cheer (cheers, present participle cheering; 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.

   • The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered.

3. (ambitransitive) To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.

   The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.

   The crowd cheered the athletes.

• boo

• French: applaudir, acclamer
• German: jubeln, aufmuntern, aufheitern, applaudieren
• Italian: incitare
• Portuguese: aclamar
• Russian: аплоди́ровать
• Spanish: aclamar

cheer (uncountable)

1. Cheerleading.

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

   • 1999, Jim Lord and Chris Calvert. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140226203505im_/http://usagym.org/pages/home/publications/technique/1999/8/cheerleading.pdf 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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180415211617/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/03/health/cheerleading-changes-and-injuries-increase.html 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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180415211411/http://www.messengernews.net/news/local-news/2018/04/iowa-central-cheer-team-is-tops-at-national-competition/ 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.