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spy definition

spy (spī)

transitive verb spied, spying spy′·ing

  1. to watch or observe closely and secretly, usually with unfriendly purpose: often with out
  2. to catch sight of; make out; perceive; see

Etymology: ME spien < OFr espier < OHG spehōn, to search out, examine < IE base *spe-, to spy, watch closely > L specere, to see, Sans spaśati, (he) sees, Gr skopein, to observe

intransitive verb

  1. to watch or observe closely and secretly; specif., to act as a spy
  2. to make a close examination or careful inspection

noun pl. spies

  1. a person who keeps close and secret watch on another or others
  2. ☆ a person employed by a government to get secret information about or monitor the affairs, plans, armed forces, etc. of another government
  3. a person employed by a company, as in industry or commerce, to discover the business secrets of another company
  4. Now Rare an act of spying

adjective

  1. of or about spies or espionage
  2. used for purposes of military espionage spy plane, spy satellite
spy Idioms

spy out

to discover or seek to discover by close observation, inspection, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

spy Synonyms

spy

n.

secret agent, intelligence agent, counterintelligence agent, counterspy, operative, espionage agent, double agent, emissary, scout, detective, observer, watcher, wiretapper, intelligencer, undercover man, secret-service agent, peeping Tom, mole*, spook*, Mata Hari*.


spy

v.

  1. To see

    view, behold, descry; see see 1.

  2. To act as a spy

    scout, observe, watch, examine, scrutinize, take note, search, discover, look for, hunt, turn over, peer, pry, spy upon, set a watch on, hound, trail, follow, gumshoe*, heel*, sleuth*, spot*, fish out*; see also meddle 1, 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

spy Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • convict: He claimed that Julius had given atom bomb secrets that he in turn passed to Harry Gold, a convicted Soviet spy.

Adjective modifier

  • suave: The hip-hop star believes he is the perfect person to replace Pierce Brosnan as the suave spy.

Modifies a noun

  • thriller: For sheer excitement, Ian Fleming's classic spy thrillers have still not been surpassed.

Noun used with modifier

  • I: Big time / Number one / Overcome by fumes / I spy / Genuine reply / Sometimes / Ripped in two / Who?
spy usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

spy quotes

Too much importance isgiven thewriterand not enough to his work.What difference does it make who he is and what he feels, since he's merelya machine for transmission of ideas. In reality he doesn't existöhe's a cipher, a blank. A spy sent into life by the forces of death. His main objective is to get the information across the border, back into death.

-Bowles, Paul Frederick

For Love's sake, kiss me once again, I long, and should not beg in vain, Here's none to spy, or see; Why do you doubt, or stay? I'll taste as lightly as the Bee, That doth but touch his flower, and flies away. Once more, and (faith) I will be gone: Can he that loves, ask less than one?

-Jonson, Ben

The Spy who Came in from the Cold.

-Le Carre¤  ,John pseudonym of  David John Moore Cornwell

spy quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"spy." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/spy>

APA Style

spy. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/spy

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