eavesdrop Hear it!

eavesdrop Definition

eaves·drop (ēvz′dräp′)

noun

Rare water that drips from the eaves, or the ground on which it drips

Etymology: ME evesdrop, altered (after drop, drop) < OE yfesdrype: see eaves & drip

intransitive verb -·dropped′, -·drop′·ping

to listen secretly to the private conversation of others

Etymology: prob. back-form. < eavesdropper, lit., one who stands on the eavesdrop to listen

eavesdrop Related Forms

eaves′·drop′·per noun

eavesdrop Synonyms

eavesdrop

v.

overhear, wiretap, listen, listen in on, try to overhear, listen stealthily, monitor, bend an ear*, bug*, tap*, prick up one's ears*, snoop*.

eavesdrop Telecom Definition

To secretly listen to or overhear a conversation without physically wiretapping a circuit. In medieval times, eavesdrop was rainwater that dropped to the ground from the eaves of a building. An eavesdropper was one who secretly hid in the area of the eavesdrop to overhear a private conversation. Contemporary electronic eavesdropping undoubtedly is a much drier and more comfortable endeavor. See also Echelon and wiretap.

eavesdrop Usage Examples

Object

  • conversation: However, my college friends benefited by borrowing the aids to eavesdrop conversations from behind closed doors!
  • mode: She instead looks for a seat at the bar near the group, going into eavesdrop mode.

Preposition: on

  • conversation: Let me invite you to eavesdrop on three conversations I've shared or overheard which indicate some of the dimensions of our subject.
  • people: I like to eavesdrop on people 's conversations, and on the way out of Millions on Sunday I heard a great one.
  • communication: The more complex the encryption algorithm, the more difficult it becomes to eavesdrop on the communications without access to the key.
  • group: Recently, I eavesdropped on a group of three women in a pub.
  • meeting: He walks in, wanders around, and eavesdrops on a meeting about investments and developments in African countries.
  • dialog: Finally, we eavesdrop on the dialog of fictional young philosophers putting the case for either side of the argument.

Modifying Another Word

electronically: Under no circumstances could an agency electronically eavesdrop on a person within the United States without such a warrant.

Followed by an intransitive particle

on: They are also languages whose use allows enclosers to eavesdrop on, " correct " and dominate the conversations of the enclosed.