|
|
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
|
| related words: |
agent, busybody, telltale |
|
|
|
|
| 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. |
| related words: |
butt in, eavesdrop, peep |
|
|
| 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
]
|
| related words: |
glimpse |
|
|
|
|