Spy definition
To watch or observe secretly.
Was sent to spy out the enemy camp.
verb
One who secretly collects information concerning the enemies of a government or group.
noun
To discover by close observation.
verb
A person employed by a government to get secret information about or monitor the affairs, plans, armed forces, etc. of another government.
noun
Spy is defined as to secretly watch someone or something.
An example of to spy is hiding behind a bush and watching someone through their window.
verb
Advertisement
A person employed by a company, as in industry or commerce, to discover the business secrets of another company.
noun
Used for purposes of military espionage.
Spy plane, spy satellite.
adjective
One who secretly collects information for a business about one or more of its competitors.
noun
The definition of a spy is a person who secretly watches what people are doing.
An example of spy is Mata Hari who was employed by Germany during the first world war.
noun
(now rare) An act of spying.
noun
Advertisement
Of or about spies or espionage.
adjective
A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
noun
(intransitive) To act as a spy.
During the Cold War, Russia and America would each spy on each other for recon.
verb
To spot; to catch sight of.
I think I can spy that hot guy coming over here.
verb
Advertisement
To explore; to view; inspect and examine secretly, as a country.
verb
One who secretly keeps watch on another or others.
noun
To catch sight of; make out; perceive; see.
verb
To catch sight of; see.
Spied the ship on the horizon.
verb
To engage in espionage.
verb
Advertisement
To investigate or observe something, especially in secret.
Spying into the neighbor's activities.
verb
To watch or observe closely and secretly, usually with unfriendly purpose.
verb
To watch or observe closely and secretly; specif., to act as a spy.
verb
To make a close examination or careful inspection.
verb
A person who keeps close and secret watch on another or others.
noun
Advertisement
spy out
- to discover or seek to discover by close observation, inspection, etc.
idiom
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
spy out
Origin of spy
- Middle English spie from Old French espie from espier to watch of Germanic origin spek- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English spien, aphetic variant of earlier espien "to espy", from Old French espier (“to spy") (espie "a spy"), from Frankish *spehōn (“to spy"), from Proto-Germanic *spehōnÄ… (“to see, look"), from Proto-Indo-European *spek- (“to look"). Akin to Old High German spehōn, spehhōn "to scout, look out for, spy" (German spähen "to spy"), Middle Dutch spien "to spy", Dutch bespieden "to spy on".
From Wiktionary