■ noun
1》 the faculty or power of seeing.
2》 the action or fact of seeing someone or something.
↘the area or distance within which someone can see or something can be seen.
3》 a thing that one sees or that can be seen.
↘( ~s ) places of interest to tourists and other visitors.
4》 ( a ~ ) informal a person or thing having a ridiculous or unattractive appearance.
5》 (also ~s ) a device on a gun or optical instrument used for assisting in precise aim or observation.
■ verb
1》 manage to see or briefly observe.
2》 take aim by looking through the ~s of a gun.
3》 take a detailed visual measurement with or as with a ~.
↘adjust the ~ of (a gun or optical instrument).
Phrases
at first ~ when first seen; from an initial impression.
in ~
1》 visible.
2》 close to being achieved or realized.
in (or within ) ~ of
1》 so as to see or be seen from.
2》 within reach of; close to attaining.
in (or within ) one's ~s
1》 visible, especially through the ~s of one's gun.
2》 within the scope of one's ambitions or expectations.
lose ~ of
1》 be no longer able to see.
2》 fail to consider, be aware of, or remember.
on (or at ) ~ as soon as someone or something has been seen.
out of ~
1》 not visible.
2》 (also outa~ ) informal extremely good; excellent.
raise (or lower ) one's ~s become more (or less) ambitious; increase (or lower) one's expectations.
set one's ~s on hope strongly to achieve or reach.
a ~ —— informal indicating considerable extent: she is a ~ cleverer than Sarah.
a ~ for sore eyes informal a person or thing that one is extremely pleased or relieved to see.
a ~ to behold a person or thing that is particularly impressive.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~er noun
~ing noun
Origin
OE (ge)sihth 'something seen', of W. Gmc origin.
Usage
On the confusion of ~ and site , see usage at site .