leer

Leer is an English verb meaning to look at someone with a sly, malicious, or lascivious expression. A leering gaze is typically disapproving, discomforting, or comic, depending on context. The verb takes the preposition at: leer at someone. It often implies sexual interest, mockery, or coercive intent, and it appears in literature, journalism, and everyday speech.

Usage notes: A leering glance can be subtle or overt. In usage, leer is usually negative in tone, and its subject is the person being looked at. Common synonyms include ogle (more intense), glare, and side-eye. As a noun, leering is less frequent but may appear in descriptive writing.

In Spanish, leer means "to read." It is among the most common verbs in everyday Spanish. Present tense: yo leo, tú lees, él/ella lee, nosotros leemos, vosotros leéis, ellos leen. Preterite forms show a spelling change and irregulars: leí, leíste, leyó, leímos, leísteis, leyeron. The gerund is leyendo, used for progressive tenses. Example: leer un libro.

Cross-linguistic note: identical spelling across languages does not imply related meaning. For example, in Dutch, leer means leather.