I. USING YOUR EYES OR YOUR MIND
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please ~ at category 14 to see if the expression you are ~ing for is shown under another headword.
1.
If you ~ in a particular direction, you direct your eyes in that direction, especially so that you can see what is there or see what something is like.
I ~ed down the hallway to room number nine...
She turned to ~ at him...
He ~ed away, apparently enraged...
If you ~, you’ll see what was a lake.
VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V prep/adv, V
•
Look is also a noun.
Lucille took a last ~ in the mirror...
Assisi has a couple of churches that are worth a ~ if you have time.
N-SING
2.
If you ~ at a book, newspaper, or magazine, you read it fairly quickly or read part of it.
You’ve just got to ~ at the last bit of Act Three.
VERB: V at n
•
Look is also a noun.
A quick ~ at Monday’s British newspapers shows that there’s plenty of interest in foreign news.
N-SING: oft N at n
3.
If someone, especially an expert, ~s at something, they examine it, and then deal with it or say how it should be dealt with.
Can you ~ at my back? I think something’s wrong.
VERB: V at n, also V
•
Look is also a noun.
The car has not been running very well and a mechanic had to come over to have a ~ at it.
N-SING: usu N at n
4.
If you ~ at someone in a particular way, you ~ at them with your expression showing what you are feeling or thinking.
She ~ed at him earnestly. ‘You don’t mind?’
VERB: V at n adv/prep
•
Look is also a noun.
He gave her a blank ~, as if he had no idea who she was...
Sally spun round, a feigned ~ of surprise on her face.
N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft adj N, N of n
5.
If you ~ for something, for example something that you have lost, you try to find it.
I’m ~ing for a child. I believe your husband can help me find her...
I had gone to Maine ~ing for a place to work...
I ~ed everywhere for ideas...
Have you ~ed on the piano?
VERB: V for n, V for n, V prep/adv for n, V prep/adv
•
Look is also a noun.
Go and have another ~.
N-SING
6.
If you are ~ing for something such as the solution to a problem or a new method, you want it and are trying to obtain it or think of it.
The working group will be ~ing for practical solutions to the problems faced by doctors...
= seek
VERB: V for n
7.
If you ~ at a subject, problem, or situation, you think about it or study it, so that you know all about it and can perhaps consider what should be done in relation to it.
Next term we’ll be ~ing at the Second World War period...
He visited Florida a few years ago ~ing at the potential of the area to stage a big match.
= examine, consider
VERB: V at n, V at n
•
Look is also a noun.
A close ~ at the statistics reveals a troubling picture.
N-SING: oft N at n
8.
If you ~ at a person, situation, or subject from a particular point of view, you judge them or consider them from that point of view.
Brian had learned to ~ at her with new respect...
It depends how you ~ at it.
VERB: V at n prep/adv, V at n prep/adv
9.
You say ~ when you want someone to pay attention to you because you are going to say something important.
Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it...
Now, ~, here is how things stand.
CONVENTION
10.
You can use ~ to draw attention to a particular situation, person, or thing, for example because you find it very surprising, significant, or annoying.
Hey, ~ at the time! We’ll talk about it tonight. All right?...
Look what a mess you’ve made of your life.
VERB: only imper, V at n, V wh
11.
If something such as a building or window ~s somewhere, it has a view of a particular place.
The castle ~s over private parkland...
VERB: V prep
•
Look out means the same as ~ .
We sit on the terrace, which ~s out on the sea.
PHRASAL VERB: V P prep
12.
If you are ~ing to do something, you are aiming to do it.
We’re not ~ing to make a fortune.
VERB: V to-inf
13.
If you say or shout ‘~ out!’ to someone, you are warning them that they are in danger.
‘Look out!’ somebody shouted, as the truck started to roll toward the sea.
EXCLAM
14.
to ~ down your nose at someone : see nose
II. APPEARANCE
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ when describing the appearance of a person or thing or the impression that they give.
Sheila was ~ing miserable...
He does not ~ the most reliable of animals...
They ~ like stars to the naked eye...
He ~ed as if he was going to smile...
Everybody in the club ~ed to be fourteen years old.
V-LINK: V adj, V n, V like n, V like/as if, V to-inf
-~ing
She was a very peculiar-~ing woman.
COMB in ADJ
2.
If someone or something has a particular ~, they have a particular appearance or expression.
She had the ~ of someone deserted and betrayed...
When he came to decorate the kitchen, Kenneth opted for a friendly rustic ~...
N-SING: with supp
3.
When you refer to someone’s ~s, you are referring to how beautiful or ugly they are, especially how beautiful they are.
I never chose people just because of their ~s.
...a young woman with wholesome good ~s.
N-PLURAL
4.
You use ~ when indicating what you think will happen in the future or how a situation seems to you.
He had lots of time to think about the future, and it didn’t ~ good...
Britain ~s set to send a major force of over 100 tanks and supporting equipment...
So far it ~s like Warner Brothers’ gamble is paying off...
The Europeans had hoped to win, and, indeed, had ~ed like winning...
The team had stormed into a two-goal lead and ~ed to be cruising to a third round place.
V-LINK: V adj, V adj, it V like/as if, V like -ing/n, V to-inf
5.
You use expressions such as by the ~ of him and by the ~s of it when you want to indicate that you are giving an opinion based on the appearance of someone or something.
He was not a well man by the ~ of him...
By the ~ of things, Mr Stone and company will stay busy.
PHRASE
6.
If you don’t like the ~ of something or someone, you feel that they may be dangerous or cause problems.
I don’t like the ~ of those clouds.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
7.
If you ask what someone or something ~s like, you are asking for a description of them.
PHRASE: V inflects