/ English Dictionary

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:

A small portable timepiece

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:

Nouns denoting people

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) 

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:

Observe with attention

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:

Look attentively

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:

See or watch

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:

look out; watch; watch out

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)

Credits

 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)

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