cheer

Etymology 1

From Middle English chere, from Old French chere, from Old French chiere, from Late Latin cara.

noun

1. (uncountable) A cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood.
2. (now uncountable) That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness, especially food and entertainment prepared for a festive occasion.
   a table loaded with good cheer
   "And am I to meet my Mary at Moffat? Come away, little, dear, welcome body, thou blessed of heaven, come away, and taste of an auld shepherd's best cheer, and I'll gang foot for foot with you to Moffat, and my auld wife shall gang foot for foot with us too. I tell you, little, blessed, and welcome crile, come along with me." 1828, James Hogg, Mary Burnet
   “[…]the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer.[…].” 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest
3. (countable) A cry expressing joy, approval or support, such as "hurrah".
   Three cheers for the birthday boy!
   A cheer rose from the crowd.
4. (countable) A chant made in support of a team at a sports event.
5. (obsolete) One's facial expression or countenance.
6. (archaic) One's attitude, mood.

verb

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.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To encourage to do something.
4. (transitive, intransitive) To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.
   The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.
   The crowd cheered the athletes.
5. (transitive, figurative) To feel or express enthusiasm for (something).
   The finance sector will cheer this decision.

Etymology 2

Clipping of cheerleading.

noun

1. (chiefly Canada, US) Cheerleading, especially when practiced as a competitive sport.
   Alex participated in cheer all four years of college.
   I'm going to wear my new cheer shoes at cheer today.
   ...[P]erspective [sic] gym cheer programs must address how to support a cheer program while maintaining appropriate and safe skill progressions. 1999, Jim Lord, Chris Calvert., Cheerleading: Where Does Your Gym Fit In?
   2000, Linda Villarosa. 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. 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.