n.
Pronunciation: ' s ī t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gesiht faculty or act of sight, thing seen; akin to Old High German gisiht sight, Old English s ē on to see
Date: before 12th century
1 : something that is seen : SPECTACLE
2 a : a thing regarded as worth seeing ― usually used in plural <the sight s of the city> b : something ludicrous or disorderly in appearance <you look a sight >
3 a chiefly dialect : a great number or quantity b : a good deal : LOT <a far sight better> <not by a damn sight >
4 a : the process, power, or function of seeing specifically : the physical sense by which light stimuli received by the eye are interpreted by the brain and constructed into a representation of the position, shape, brightness, and usually color of objects in space b : mental or spiritual perception c : mental view specifically : JUDGMENT
5 a : the act of looking at or beholding b : INSPECTION , PERUSAL c : VIEW , GLIMPSE d : an observation to determine direction or position (as by a navigator)
6 a : a perception of an object by or as if by the eye <never lost sight of the objective> b : the range of vision <was nowhere in sight >
7 : presentation of a note or draft to the maker or draftee : DEMAND
8 a : a device that aids the eye in aiming or in finding the direction of an object b plural : ASPIRATION <set her sight s on a medical career>
– in sight : at or within a reasonable distance or time
– on sight : as soon as seen <ordered to shoot on sight >
– out of sight
1 : beyond comparison
2 : beyond all expectation or reason
3 ― used as a generalized expression of approval
– sight for sore eyes : one whose appearance or arrival is an occasion for joy or relief