a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, esp. with reference to military or naval affairs.
2.
a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.
3.
a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, esp. one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor: an industrial spy.
4.
the act of spying.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often fol. by on or upon).
6.
to act as a spy; engage in espionage.
7.
to be on the lookout; keep watch.
8.
to search for or examine something closely or carefully.
–verb (used with object)
9.
to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry: to spy a rare bird overhead.
10.
to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often fol. by out).
11.
to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent.
12.
to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully.
[Origin: 1200–50; (v.) ME spien, aph. var. of espien to espy; (n.) ME, aph. var. of espy a spy < OF espie]
c.1250, from O.Fr. espier "to spy," espie "a spy," probably from Frank. *spehon, from P.Gmc. *spekh- (cf. O.H.G. *spehon "to look out for, scout, spy," Ger. spähen "to spy," M.Du. spien), the Gmc. survivals of the productive PIE root *spek- "to look" (see scope (1)). Spy-glass "telescope, field-glass" is from 1706.
a secret agent or person employed to gather information secretly especially about the military affairs of other countries Example: She was arrested as a spy; industrial spies
Arabic:
جاسوس
Chinese (Simplified):
间谍
Chinese (Traditional):
間諜
Czech:
špión, -ka
Danish:
spion; -spion
Dutch:
spion
Estonian:
spioon
Finnish:
vakoilija
French:
espion, *-onne
German:
der, *die Spion(in)
Greek:
κατάσκοπος
Hungarian:
kém
Icelandic:
njósnari
Indonesian:
agen rahasia, mata-mata
Italian:
spia, spione
Japanese:
スパイ
Korean:
탐정, 밀정
Latvian:
spiegs
Lithuanian:
šnipas
Norwegian:
spion
Polish:
szpieg
Portuguese (Brazil):
espião
Portuguese (Portugal):
espião
Romanian:
spion
Russian:
шпион
Slovak:
špión, -ka
Slovenian:
vohun
Swedish:
spion
Turkish:
casus
spy1[spai]verb
to be a spy Example: He had been spying for the Russians for many years.
Arabic:
يَتَجَسَّس
Chinese (Simplified):
作间谍
Chinese (Traditional):
作間諜
Czech:
provádět špionáž
Danish:
spionere
Dutch:
spioneren
Estonian:
spioneerima
Finnish:
vakoilla
French:
espionner
German:
spionieren
Greek:
κατασκοπεύω
Hungarian:
kémkedik
Icelandic:
njósna
Indonesian:
menjadi agen rahasia, mata-mata
Italian:
spiare
Japanese:
スパイ活動をする
Korean:
스파이 노릇을 하다
Latvian:
spiegot
Lithuanian:
šnipinėti
Norwegian:
spionere
Polish:
szpiegować
Portuguese (Brazil):
espionar
Portuguese (Portugal):
espiar
Romanian:
a spiona
Russian:
шпионить
Slovak:
robiť špionáž
Slovenian:
vohuniti
Swedish:
spionera
Turkish:
casusluk yapmak
spy2[spai]verb
to see or notice Example: She spied a human figure on the mountainside.
Aus"pi*cate\, a. [L. auspicatus, p. p. of auspicari to take auspices, fr. auspex a bird seer, an augur, a contr. of avispex; avis bird + specere, spicere, to view. See Aviary, Spy.] Auspicious. [Obs.] --Holland.
Bish"op\, n. [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop, L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. ?, ? over + ? inspector, fr. root of ?, ?, to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to look at. See Spy, and cf. Episcopal.]1. A spiritual overseer, superintendent, or director. Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. --1 Pet. ii. 25. It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the church is called indifferently "bishop" ( ? ) and "elder" or "presbyter." --J. B. Lightfoot. 2. In the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Anglican or Protestant Episcopal churches, one ordained to the highest order of the ministry, superior to the priesthood, and generally claiming to be a successor of the Apostles. The bishop is usually the spiritual head or ruler of a diocese, bishopric, or see. Bishop in partibus [infidelium] (R. C. Ch.), a bishop of a see which does not actually exist; one who has the office of bishop, without especial jurisdiction. --Shipley. Titular bishop (R. C. Ch.), a term officially substituted in 1882 for bishop in partibus. Bench of Bishops. See under Bench. 3. In the Methodist Episcopal and some other churches, one of the highest church officers or superintendents. 4. A piece used in the game of chess, bearing a representation of a bishop's miter; -- formerly called archer. 5. A beverage, being a mixture of wine, oranges or lemons, and sugar. --Swift. 6. An old name for a woman's bustle. [U. S.] If, by her bishop, or her "grace" alone, A genuine lady, or a church, is known. --Saxe.
Cir"cum*spect\, a. [L. circumspectus, p. p. of circumspicere to look about one's self, to observe; circum + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy.] Attentive to all the circumstances of a case or the probable consequences of an action; cautious; prudent; wary. Syn: See Cautious.
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Audio Help [spahy] Pronunciation Key, noun, plural spies, verb, spied, spy·ing. 
