noun
A slightly literary or refined word for a smile, often suggesting a gentle, warm, or quiet expression. In everyday speech, 笑顔 (えがお) is more common.
彼女の口元にほのかな笑みが浮かんだ。
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
祖父は孫を見て、目じりに深い笑みをたたえた。
Looking at his grandchild, my grandfather's eyes crinkled in a deep smile.
笑顔 is the common, everyday word for a smiling face. 笑み is more literary and often describes the smile itself rather than the whole facial expression.
微笑み is also a gentle smile, but it can be used more broadly and is slightly less literary than 笑み. 笑み often appears in fixed phrases like 笑みを浮かべる or 笑みをたたえる.
Derived from the verb 笑む (えむ), an older or more literary form of 笑う (わらう). The noun 笑み retains a refined, gentle nuance compared to the more common 笑い (わらい).