wee smile

1 6.5

A small, quiet mouth movement that shows a little happiness

noun

: sonrisa pequeña

When she saw the puppy, a wee smile spread across her face.

Examples

He greeted her with a wee smile that made her day brighter.
The child gave his mother a wee smile after finishing his drawing.
Shall I wrap a wee smile in it... for you to keep while I'm away?

A Shine of Rainbows (2009)

Synonyms

smile

vswee smile

∞ 1.0

A facial expression with the mouth corners turned up to show happiness or friendliness

is a smaller facial expression focused on slightness rather than broad emotion

to give a little smile

vswee smile

2 3.0

A small gentle smile that shows quiet happiness or approval

is a small and slight facial expression focused on size rather than intention

Antonyms

frown

53 1.0

A facial expression with the eyebrows pushed together showing dislike or worry

scowl

17 3.9

An angry look that shows you do not like something

How Big

big smile

69 1.0

grin

137 1.0

smile

∞ 1.0

wee smile

1 6.5

Surface Forms

wee smile singular

wee smiles plural

Morphology

wee + smile

The meaning 'a small or slight smile' is directly and compositionally derived from 'wee' (tiny) + 'smile' (facial expression), following a standard adjective + noun pattern. A B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the meaning, although 'wee' is regionally marked (British/Scottish) and informal.

Etymology

The phrase wee smile comes from Scottish English where wee means 'small'. Picture a tiny smile at the corner of someone's mouth, and that's why it means 'a small or slight smile'.