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spy

spy

 
 
pronunciation:
spaI
parts of speech:
noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word Explorer, Grammatical Patterns
part of speech: noun
inflections: spies
definition 1: a person employed by a nation's government to secretly observe and gather information about another nation's activities, plans, defenses, and the like.
When the spy was arrested, he was in possession of top-secret documents.
similar words:
operative
definition 2: a person who secretly observes and gathers information about others, sometimes for pay.
The mobster sent out one of his spies to keep tabs on the woman.
similar words:
operative
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part of speech: intransitive verb
inflections: spies, spying, spied
definition 1: to observe secretly and carefully, usu. for hostile reasons or out of suspicion of wrongdoing (usu. fol. by "on" or "upon").
She hired a detective to spy on her husband.
definition 2: to be employed and active as a spy.
He spied for the government for twenty years.
definition 3: to look for or investigate something.
As a botanist, she spies into nature's secrets.
 
part of speech: transitive verb
definition: to discover or catch sight of; espy.
She spied a strange object under the bed.The captain spied a ship just on the horizon.From the tower, we spied an eagle soaring overhead.[verb + smby/smth + present participle ]
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  war