Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cheer \Cheer\ (ch[=e]r), n. [OE. chere face, welcome, cheer, OF.
   chiere, F. ch[`e]re, fr. LL. cara face, Gr. ? head; akin to
   Skr. [,c]iras, L. cerebrum brain, G. hirn, and E. cranium.]
   1. The face; the countenance or its expression. [Obs.]
      ``Sweat of thy cheer.'' --Wyclif.

   2. Feeling; spirit; state of mind or heart.

            Be of good cheer.                     --Matt. ix. 2.

            The parents . . . fled away with heavy cheer.
                                                  --Holland.

   3. Gayety; mirth; cheerfulness; animation.

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

   1. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness;
      provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment; as, a
      table loaded with good cheer.

   5. A shout, hurrah, or acclamation, expressing joy
      enthusiasm, applause, favor, etc.

            Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street.
                                                  --Tennyson.

   {Whzt cheer}? Now do you fare? What is there that is
      cheering?

Cheer \Cheer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cheered}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {cheering}.]
   1. To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; --
      often with up. --Cowpe.

   2. To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to
      inspirit; to solace or comfort.

            The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered.
                                                  --Dryden.

   3. To salute or applaud with cheers; to urge on by cheers;
      as, to cheer hounds in a chase.

   {To cheer ship}, to salute a passing ship by cheers of
      sailors stationed in the rigging.

   Syn: To gladden; encourage; inspirit; comfort; console;
        enliven; refresh; exhilarate; animate; applaud.

Cheer \Cheer\, v. i.
   1. To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; -- usually
      with up.

            At sight of thee my gloomy soul cheers up. --A.
                                                  Philips.

   2. To be in any state or temper of mind. [Obs.]

            How cheer'st thou, Jessica?           --Shak.

   3. To utter a shout or shouts of applause, triumph, etc.

            And even the ranks of Tusculum Could scare forbear
            to cheer.                             --Macaulay.

Source : WordNet®

cheer
     n 1: a cry or shout of approval
     2: the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom; "flowers
        added a note of cheerfulness to the drab room" [syn: {cheerfulness}]
        [ant: {uncheerfulness}]

cheer
     v 1: give encouragement to [syn: {hearten}, {recreate}, {embolden}]
          [ant: {dishearten}]
     2: show approval or good wishes by shouting; "everybody cheered
        the birthday boy"
     3: cause (somebody) to feel happier or more cheerful; "She
        tried to cheer up the disappointed child when he failed to
        win the spelling bee" [syn: {cheer up}, {jolly along}, {jolly
        up}]
     4: become cheerful [syn: {cheer up}, {chirk up}] [ant: {complain}]
     5: urge on or encourage especially by shouts; "The crowd
        cheered the demonstrating strikers" [syn: {inspire}, {urge},
         {barrack}, {urge on}, {exhort}, {pep up}]