leer

1 a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls [syn: sneer]

2 a suggestive or sneering look or grin v : look suggestively or obliquely; look or gaze with a sly, immodest, or malign expression; "The men leered at the young women on the beach"

English

Pronunciation

• a UK /lɪə/, /lI@/
• a US /lɪɹ/
• Rhymes with: -ɪə(r)

Etymology 1

Origin uncertain; perhaps derived from Etymology 2, below.

Verb

1. To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.

Translations

Noun

1. A sly or lecherous look.

Translations

Noun

leer (Plural: leren, diminutive: leertje)

1. leather

Synonyms

• leder

Noun

leer (Plural: leren, diminutive: leertje)

1. teachings

Verb form

leer

1. 1st person singular present of leren, to learn
2. imperative of leren, to learn

Estonian

Noun

leer

1. camp

German

Etymology

lāri

Adjective

leer

1. empty

Norwegian

Verb

leer

1. Present tense of lee

Spanish

Etymology

legere

Verb

leer

1. to read

   Quiero leer el periódico.

   I like to read the newspaper.

Conjugation

es-conj-eer l

Related terms

• lección
• lector
• lectura
• leyenda

Leer is a town in the district of Leer, the northwestern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the river Ems, on the border with the Netherlands.

It has a railway and autobahn connection to Groningen, Netherlands, Emden, Bremen and the South (Rheine and the Ruhrpott industrial region).

Geography

Leer had been a settlement long before it was first mentioned in written documents. Originally the city was situated at a maeander near the mouth of the river Leda into the Ems, which is still the center of the town today. Even though Leer is some 30 km (19miles) away from the coast, it can be reached by large ships via the Ems. Leer lies close to the Dutch border, the district of Leer shares a border with the Dutch province of Groningen.

History

There are many traces of early settlements in the area, including crude flint tools that are dated back to the 3200 BC.

In 791 AD Saint Ludger built the first chapel in East Frisia at the western edge of the settlement Leer, then still named Hleri after feetlot, willow. This chapel is mentioned in a written document from 850 AD for the first time.

During the 14th and 15th Century Leer was home town of the Ukena family which was one most influential East-Frisian chieftain families of that time. The town profited from the trade with the Hanse, and a fortress Leerort was built.

The right to have a market was obtained in 1508 by Count Edzard, which started the tradition of the "Gallimarkt" that is now an annual fair. In 1744 East Frisia fell to Prussia, then ruled by Frederick the Great. Town privileges were awarded in 1823 by George IV, King of Hanover.

In 1854 Leer became connected to the "Hannoversche Westbahn" railway, which at that time connected Emden and Rheine in the Ruhr area. In 1856 the Westbahn became connected to the central German railway network.

Unlike Emden, Leer only suffered little damage by Allied bombings in World War II. The city was occupied by Canadian Troops on April 28th, 1945.

On 1 October 1955 Leer got the status of an independent city.

Religions:

Leer is a traditional Protestant city and home to both the Lutheran and Reformed churches. The German Reformed Church has its head office in Leer. Furthermore Leer offers an unusually large variety of smaller religious communities, especially Baptists, Mennonites, Methodists, Adventists and Mormons. Even though Eastern Frisia is a mainly a Protestant region, there is a small Roman Catholic community in Leer.

Politics

Since 1964 the city's government has been led by the Social-Democratic Party SPD. The major oppositional parties are the Christian Democratic Union Party CDU, the Green Party and the AWG, an independent local party.

Local council:

• SPD: 42.5 % / 16 Seats
• CDU: 28.5 % / 7 Seats
• AWG: 12.2 % / 4 Seats
• Grüne: 10.1 % / 4 Seats
• FDP: 4.8 % / 2 Seats
• LA: 2.3 % / 1 Seat

The mayor of Leer is Wolfgang Kellner.

Twin Towns:

• Trowbridge (GB)
• Elbląg (PL)

Culture

Buildings:

• Harderwykenburg
• Haneburg
• Evenburg
• Philippsburg (Castle)
• Telecommunication tower "Leer-Nüttermoor" (Height:160 meters)

Each year in autumn the Gallimarkt is held. Traditionally a cattle-market, the Gallimarkt is now one of the largest fairs in Northwest Germany.

Economics and Infrastructure

Two autobahns (freeways) cross north of Leer, the A 28 (Leer - Bremen) and the A 31 (Emden - Oberhausen, Ruhr Area). The city itself has three junctions to the autobahns. Leer railway station is a relay station between Groningen and Bremen in West-East direction and the South and Emden harbour (with a large VW factory and shipping facilities) in the North. The airfield Leer-Papenburg north of the city offers limited passenger flights to nearby airfields, most notably the East Frisian Islands. The closest international airport is Bremen International Airport.

Leer is home to many German shipping companies — about 20 per cent of the German merchant fleet are registered in Leer. The Bünting group http://www.buenting.de/ is seated in Leer and is one of the city's main employers. Although Bünting owns several German supermarket chains, the company is best known for their tea, which is available all over Germany.

Education

In Leer are seven primary schools and numerous secondary schools. The two gymnasiums , Teletta Gross Gymnasium and Ubbo-Emmius-Gymnasium, educate more than 1,500 pupils each and are two of the largest gymnasiums in Lower Saxony. The town also offers education at two vocational schools.

Notable persons

• Focko Ukena
• Ubbo Emmius - Theologian, historian from the University of Groningen
• Wilhelmine Siefkes
• Bernhard Bavink
• Ernst Reuter
• Johann Ludwig Hinrichs
• Hans-Peter Geerdes
• Karl Dall
• Friedel Grützmacher
• Gustaaf Willem baron van Imhoff

External links

• Official website of the city
• www.kappenberg.emsnet.de/lebendiges-leer.htm
• www.seefahrtschule-leer.de/
• www.bbs2leer.de/
• www.bbs1-leer.de/
• www.fcso.de/
• www.ueg-leer.de/
• www.tgg-leer.de/
• www.radio-ostfriesland.de/

Roman candle, aid to navigation, alarm, amber light, balefire, beacon, beacon fire, beat the drum, bell, bell buoy, blinker, blue peter, buoy, caution light, contemplate, dekko, dip, examine, exchange colors, eye, eyeful, flag, flag down, flare, flash, fleer, fog bell, fog signal, fog whistle, foghorn, give a signal, give the eye, give the nod, give the once-over, glad eye, glance, go light, gong buoy, green light, hail, hail and speak, half-mast, hard look, heliograph, high sign, hoist a banner, inspect, international alphabet flag, international numeral pennant, kick, leer at, leering look, look, look over, look-in, lustful leer, make a sign, marker beacon, nod, nudge, ogle, ogle at, parachute flare, peruse, pilot flag, poke, police whistle, pore, pore over, preview, prospect, quarantine flag, radio beacon, raise a cry, red flag, red light, regard, rocket, sailing aid, salute, sardonic grin, scene, scornful laugh, scrutinize, semaphore, semaphore flag, semaphore telegraph, sidelong look, sight, sign, signal, signal beacon, signal bell, signal fire, signal flag, signal gong, signal gun, signal lamp, signal light, signal mast, signal post, signal rocket, signal shot, signal siren, signal tower, signalize, size up, sly look, smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger, snort, sound an alarm, sound the trumpet, spar buoy, speak, stop light, survey, take a long, take stock of, the eye, the nod, the wink, touch, traffic light, traffic signal, unfurl a flag, vet, view, watch fire, wave, wave a flag, wave the hand, white flag, wigwag, wigwag flag, wink, yellow flag