SPY


Meaning of SPY in English

n. & v.

--n. (pl. spies)

1. a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, etc., of an enemy, competitor, etc.

2 a person who keeps watch on others, esp. furtively.

--v. (spies, spied)

1. tr. discern or make out, esp. by careful observation (spied a house in the distance).

2 intr. (often foll. by on) act as a spy, keep a close and secret watch.

3 intr. (often foll. by into) pry.

Phrases and idioms:

I spy a children's game of guessing a visible object from the initial letter of its name. spy-master colloq. the head of an organization of spies. spy out explore or discover, esp. secretly.

Etymology: ME f. OF espie espying, espier espy f. Gmc

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.