■ noun
1》 the organ of sight in humans or other animals.
↘a person's attitude or feelings: to European ~s, the city seems overcrowded.
2》 a rounded ~-like marking on an animal.
↘a round, dark spot on a potato from which a new shoot can grow.
3》 the small hole in a needle through which the thread is passed.
↘a small metal loop into which a hook is fitted as a fastener on a garment.
↘ Nautical a loop at the end of a rope, especially one at the top end of a shroud or stay.
4》 ( ~s ) Nautical the extreme forward part of a ship.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing or eying , ~d ) look at closely or with interest.
↘( ~ someone up ) informal look at someone with sexual interest.
Phrases
be all ~s be watching eagerly and attentively.
close (or shut ) one's ~s to refuse to acknowledge (something unpleasant).
an ~ for an ~ and a tooth for a tooth retaliation in kind is the appropriate way to deal with an offence or crime. [with biblical allusion to Exod. 21: 24.]
the ~ of the storm the calm region at the centre of a storm.
the ~ of the wind the direction from which the wind is blowing.
~s front (or left or right ) a military command to turn the head in the direction stated.
get one's ~ in Brit. improve one's judgement or skill through experience.
give someone the ~ informal look at someone with sexual interest.
have an ~ for be able to recognize and make good judgements about.
have (or keep ) one's ~ on keep under careful observation.
↘( have one's ~ on ) aim to acquire.
have (or with ) an ~ to have (or having) as one's objective.
( only ) have ~s for be (exclusively) interested in.
have ~s in the back of one's head know what is going on around one even when one cannot see it.
keep an ~ out (or open ) look out for something.
keep one's ~s open (or peeled or Brit. skinned ) watch out for something.
make ~s at look at with clear sexual interest.
one in the ~ for a disappointment or setback for.
open someone's ~s cause someone to realize something.
see ~ to ~ be in full agreement.
a twinkle (or gleam ) in someone's ~ something that is as yet no more than an idea.
up to the (or one's ) ~s (in) informal very busy.
with one's ~s open fully aware of possible difficulties.
with one (or half ) an ~ on giving only partial attention to.
Derivatives
-~d adjective
~less adjective
Origin
OE ēage , of Gmc origin.