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WATCH
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
Synonyms:
vigil; watch
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("watch" is a kind of...):
surveillance (close observation of a person or group (usually by the police))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "watch"):
continuous receiver watch; listening watch (a watch established for the reception of traffic of interest to the unit maintaining the watch)
spying (keeping a secret or furtive watch)
Derivation:
watch (observe with attention)
watch (observe or determine by looking)
watch (look attentively)
watch (see or watch)
watch (follow with the eyes or the mind)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)
Synonyms:
vigil; watch
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("watch" is a kind of...):
religious rite; rite (an established ceremony prescribed by a religion)
Domain category:
faith; religion; religious belief (a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "watch"):
viewing; wake (a vigil held over a corpse the night before burial)
agrypnia (a vigil before certain feasts (as e.g. Easter))
Sense 3
Meaning:
Synonyms:
ticker; watch
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("watch" is a kind of...):
horologe; timekeeper; timepiece (a measuring instrument or device for keeping time)
Meronyms (parts of "watch"):
movement (the driving and regulating parts of a mechanism (as of a watch or clock))
face (the side upon which the use of a thing depends (usually the most prominent surface of an object))
crystal; watch crystal; watch glass (a protective cover that protects the face of a watch)
watch case (the metal case in which the works of a watch are housed)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "watch"):
analog watch (a watch that represents time by the position of hands on a dial)
digital watch (a watch with a digital display)
hunter; hunting watch (a watch with a hinged metal lid to protect the crystal)
pendulum watch ((18th century) a watch with a balance wheel having a fake pendulum attached to it)
pocket watch (a watch that is carried in a small watch pocket)
stem-winder (a watch that is wound by turning a knob at the stem)
wrist watch; wristwatch (a watch that is worn strapped to the wrist)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
Synonyms:
lookout; lookout man; picket; scout; sentinel; sentry; spotter; watch
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("watch" is a kind of...):
security guard; watcher; watchman (a guard who keeps watch)
Derivation:
watch (be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful)
Sense 5
Meaning:
A period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty
Classified under:
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Hypernyms ("watch" is a kind of...):
duty period; shift; work shift (the time period during which you are at work)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "watch"):
dogwatch (either of two short watches: from 4-6 pm or 6-8 pm)
graveyard watch; middle watch; midwatch; night watch (a watch during the night (as from midnight to 8 a.m.))
Sense 6
Meaning:
The period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty
Classified under:
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Hypernyms ("watch" is a kind of...):
period; period of time; time period (an amount of time)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they watch ... he / she / it watches
Past simple: watched
-ing form: watching
Sense 1
Meaning:
Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
Example:
Check whether the train leaves on time
Synonyms:
ascertain; check; determine; find out; learn; see; watch
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Verb group:
ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it (be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something)
ascertain; determine; find; find out (establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "watch"):
test (determine the presence or properties of (a substance))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE
Sentence example:
They watch whether there was a traffic accident
Sense 2
Meaning:
Example:
They watched as the murderer was executed
Synonyms:
look on; watch
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
"Watch" entails doing...:
see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "watch"):
sit back; sit by (be inactive or indifferent while something is happening)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
watch (a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe)
watcher (a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind))
watching (the act of observing; taking a patient look)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Observe or determine by looking
Example:
Watch how the dog chases the cats away
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE
Derivation:
watch (a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Example:
watch a basketball game
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
"Watch" entails doing...:
look (perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "watch"):
witness (be a witness to)
rubberneck (strain to watch; stare curiously)
catch; see; take in; view; watch (see or watch)
observe (watch attentively)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Derivation:
watch (a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe)
watcher (a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind))
Sense 5
Meaning:
Example:
see a movie
Synonyms:
catch; see; take in; view; watch
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "watch" is one way to...):
watch (look attentively)
Verb group:
see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "watch"):
visualise; visualize (view the outline of by means of an X-ray)
spectate (be a spectator in a sports event)
preview (watch (a movie or play) before it is released to the general public)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue watch the movie
Derivation:
watch (a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful
Example:
Watch out for pickpockets!
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "watch"):
beware; mind (be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to)
keep one's eyes open; keep one's eyes peeled; keep one's eyes skinned (pay attention; be watchful)
look after (keep under careful scrutiny)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sentence examples:
The men watch the area for animals
The men watch for animals in the area
Derivation:
watch (a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event)
watcher (a guard who keeps watch)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Follow with the eyes or the mind
Example:
She followed the men with the binoculars
Synonyms:
follow; keep an eye on; observe; watch; watch over
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "watch" is one way to...):
check; check into; check out; check over; check up on; go over; look into; suss out (examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition)
Verb group:
follow; trace (follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "watch"):
keep tabs on (keep a record on or watch attentively)
guard (to keep watch over)
invigilate; proctor (watch over (students taking an exam, to prevent cheating))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
The children watch the ball
Derivation:
watch (a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe)
Context examples:
A watch is always too fast or too slow.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
Perhaps he wanted to speak to her, of his attachment to Harriet; he might be watching for encouragement to begin.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Draw down the blind, Jim, whispered my mother; they might come and watch outside.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
The second dog-watch and the day were wound up by a fight between Johansen and the lean, Yankee-looking hunter, Latimer.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
The man pulled out his watch, the while resting his weight on one leg.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
Closely watching a patient's condition but not giving treatment unless there are changes in test results.
(Patient Observation, NCI Dictionary)
I remained, while the storm lasted, watching its progress with curiosity and delight.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
The wife liked the thought; so they left a light burning, and hid themselves in a corner of the room, behind a curtain that was hung up there, and watched what would happen.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
He went: I watched the light withdraw.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
For two days I watched the place, but the door was never left open.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)