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9 dictionary results for: Watch

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

watch

[woch] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used without object)

1.	to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens: to watch while an experiment is performed.

2.	to look or wait attentively and expectantly (usually fol. by for): to watch for a signal; to watch for an opportunity.

3.	to be careful or cautious: Watch when you cross the street.

4.	to keep awake, esp. for a purpose; remain vigilant, as for protection or safekeeping: to watch with a sick person.

5.	to keep vigil, as for devotional purposes.

6.	to keep guard: She was assigned to watch at the door.

–verb (used with object)

7.	to keep under attentive view or observation, as in order to see or learn something; view attentively or with interest: to watch a play; to watch a football game.

8.	to contemplate or regard mentally: to watch his progress.

9.	to look or wait attentively and expectantly for: to watch one's opportunity.

10.	to guard, tend, or oversee, esp. for protection or safekeeping: to watch the baby.

–noun

11.	close, continuous observation for the purpose of seeing or discovering something: Their watch for the birds was unrewarding.

12.	vigilant guard, as for protection or restraint: to keep watch for prowlers.

13.	a keeping awake for some special purpose: a watch beside a sickbed.

14.	a period of time for watching or keeping guard: to stand the first watch.

15.	a small, portable timepiece, as a wrist watch or pocket watch.

16.	a chronometer.

17.

Nautical.

a.	a period of time, usually four hours, during which one part of a ship's crew is on duty, taking turns with another part.

b.	the officers and crew who attend to the working of a ship for an allotted period of time.

18.	one of the periods, usually three or four, into which the night was divided in ancient times, as by the Greeks or Hebrews: the fourth watch of the night.

19.	a person or group that watches, as a lookout, guard, or sentinel: A watch was posted at sunset.

20.

Also called storm watch. Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that dangerous weather conditions are a possibility and that vigilance and precautionary preparations are advised: hurricane watch, tornado watch. Compare advisory (def. 5), warning (def. 3).

21.	a flock of nightingales.

—Verb phrases

22.	watch out, to be on one's guard; be cautious: Watch out for cars when you cross the road.

23.	watch over, to guard for protection or safekeeping: She watched over us like a mother hen over her brood.

—Idioms

24.	on the watch, vigilant; alert: The hunter was on the watch for game.

25.

watch oneself,

a.	to be cautious.

b.	to practice discretion or self-restraint.

[Origin: bef. 900; 1580–90 for def. 15; (v.) ME wacchen, OE wæccan, doublet of wacian to be awake (see wake¹); (n.) ME wacche, OE wæcce, deriv. of wæccan

]

—Synonyms 1. Watch, look, see imply being aware of things around one by perceiving them through the eyes. To watch is to be a spectator, to look on or observe, or to fix the attention upon during passage of time: to watch while a procession passes. To look is to direct the gaze with the intention of seeing, to use the eyesight with attention: to look for violets in the spring; to look at articles displayed for sale. To see is to perceive with the eyes, to obtain a visual impression, with or without fixing the attention: animals able to see in the dark. 9. await. 10. protect. 11. inspection, attention. 12. vigil.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

watch   (wŏch) Pronunciation Key
v.   watched, watch·ing, watch·es

v.   intr.

To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant: watching for trail markers.
To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation: watch for an opportunity.
To act as a spectator; look on: stood by the road and watched.
To stay awake at night while serving as a guard, sentinel, or watcher.
To stay alert as a devotional or religious exercise; keep vigil.

v. tr.

To look at steadily; observe carefully or continuously: watch a parade.
To keep a watchful eye on; guard: watched the prisoner all day.
To observe the course of mentally; keep up on or informed about: watch the price of gold.
To tend (a flock, for example). See Synonyms at tend².

The act or process of keeping awake or mentally alert, especially for the purpose of guarding.
1. The act of observing closely or the condition of being closely observed; surveillance.
2. A period of close observation, often in order to discover something: a watch during the child's illness.
3. Any of the periods of time, usually four hours, into which the day aboard ship is divided and during which a part of the crew is assigned to duty.
4. The members of a ship's crew on duty during a specific watch.
5. A chronometer on a ship.
6. A period of wakefulness, especially one observed as a religious vigil.
7. A funeral wake.
A person or group of people serving, especially at night, to guard or protect.
The post or period of duty of a guard, sentinel, or watcher.
Any of the periods into which the night is divided; a part of the night.
Nautical
1. Any of the periods of time, usually four hours, into which the day aboard ship is divided and during which a part of the crew is assigned to duty.
2. The members of a ship's crew on duty during a specific watch.
3. A chronometer on a ship.
4. A period of wakefulness, especially one observed as a religious vigil.
5. A funeral wake.
1. A period of wakefulness, especially one observed as a religious vigil.
2. A funeral wake.
A small portable timepiece, especially one worn on the wrist or carried in the pocket.
A flock of nightingales. See Synonyms at flock¹.

Phrasal Verb(s):
watch out
To be careful or on the alert; take care.
watch over
To be in charge of; superintend.

Idiom(s):
watch it
To be careful: had to watch it when I stepped onto the ice.

Idiom(s):
watch (one's) step

To act or proceed with care and caution.
To behave as is demanded, required, or appropriate.

[Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæccan, to watch, be awake; see weg- in Indo-European roots.]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
watch (v.)

O.E. wæccan "keep watch, be awake," from P.Gmc. *wakojan; essentially the same word as O.E. wacian "be or remain awake" (see wake (v.)); perhaps a Northumbrian form. Watchdog is recorded from 1610; fig. sense is attested from 1845.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
watch (n.)

O.E. wæcce "a watching," from wæccan (see watch (v.)). Sense of "sentinel" is recorded from c.1300; that of "person or group officially patroling a town (esp. at night) to keep order, etc." is first recorded 1539. Meaning "period of time in which a division of a ship's crew remains on deck" is from 1585. Sense of "period into which a night was divided in ancient times" translates L. vigilia, Gk. phylake, Heb. ashmoreth.

"The Hebrews divided the night into three watches, the Greeks usually into four (sometimes five), the Romans (followed by the Jews in New Testament times) into four." [OED]

The meaning "small timepiece" is from 1588, developing from that of "a clock to wake up sleepers" (1440). Watchmaker is recorded from 1630; watchtower is attested from 1544.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

watch
noun
1.	a small portable timepiece
2.	a period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty
3.	a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
4.	the period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty
5.	a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event [syn: lookout]
6.	the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival) [syn: vigil]
verb
1.	look attentively; "watch a basketball game"
2.	follow with the eyes or the mind; "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars"
3.	see or watch; "view a show on television"; "This program will be seen all over the world"; "view an exhibition"; "Catch a show on Broadway"; "see a movie"
4.	observe with attention; "They watched as the murderer was executed"
5.	be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful; "Watch out for pickpockets!"
6.	observe or determine by looking; "Watch how the dog chases the cats away"
7.	find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether she speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if he speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on time" [syn: determine]

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

watch

In addition to the idioms beginning with watch, also see keep watch; look (watch) out; on the lookout (watch).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Watch

Watch\ (w[o^]ch), n. [OE. wacche, AS. w[ae]cce, fr. wacian to wake; akin to D. wacht, waak, G. wacht, wache. [root]134. See Wake, v. i. ]

1. The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night.

Shepherds keeping watch by night. --Milton.

All the long night their mournful watch they keep. --Addison.

Note: Watch was formerly distinguished from ward, the former signifying a watching or guarding by night, and the latter a watching, guarding, or protecting by day Hence, they were not unfrequently used together, especially in the phrase to keep watch and ward, to denote continuous and uninterrupted vigilance or protection, or both watching and guarding. This distinction is now rarely recognized, watch being used to signify a watching or guarding both by night and by day, and ward, which is now rarely used, having simply the meaning of guard, or protection, without reference to time.

Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward. --Spenser.

Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins when ward ends, and ends when that begins. --Blackstone.

2. One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. --Matt. xxvii. 65.

3. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.

He upbraids Iago, that he made him Brave me upon the watch. --Shak.

4. The period of the night during which a person does duty as a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.

I did stand my watch upon the hill. --Shak.

Might we but hear . . . Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock Count the night watches to his feathery dames. --Milton.

5. A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.

Note: Watches are often distinguished by the kind of escapement used, as an anchor watch, a lever watch, a chronometer watch, etc. (see the Note under Escapement, n., 3); also, by the kind of case, as a gold or silver watch, an open-faced watch, a hunting watch, or hunter, etc.

6. (Naut.) (a) An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf. Dogwatch. (b) That part, usually one half, of the officers and crew, who together attend to the working of a vessel for an allotted time, usually four hours. The watches are designated as the port watch, and the starboard watch.

Anchor watch (Naut.), a detail of one or more men who keep watch on deck when a vessel is at anchor.

To be on the watch, to be looking steadily for some event.

Watch and ward (Law), the charge or care of certain officers to keep a watch by night and a guard by day in towns, cities, and other districts, for the preservation of the public peace. --Wharton. --Burrill.

Watch and watch (Naut.), the regular alternation in being on watch and off watch of the two watches into which a ship's crew is commonly divided.

Watch barrel, the brass box in a watch, containing the mainspring.

Watch bell (Naut.), a bell struck when the half-hour glass is run out, or at the end of each half hour. --Craig.

Watch bill (Naut.), a list of the officers and crew of a ship as divided into watches, with their stations. --Totten.

Watch case, the case, or outside covering, of a watch; also, a case for holding a watch, or in which it is kept.

Watch chain. Same as watch guard, below.

Watch clock, a watchman's clock; see under Watchman.

Watch fire, a fire lighted at night, as a signal, or for the use of a watch or guard.

Watch glass. (a) A concavo-convex glass for covering the face, or dial, of a watch; -- also called watch crystal. (b) (Naut.) A half-hour glass used to measure the time of a watch on deck.

Watch guard, a chain or cord by which a watch is attached to the person.

Watch gun (Naut.), a gun sometimes fired on shipboard at 8 p. m., when the night watch begins.

Watch light, a low-burning lamp used by watchers at night; formerly, a candle having a rush wick.

Watch night, The last night of the year; -- so called by the Methodists, Moravians, and others, who observe it by holding religious meetings lasting until after midnight.

Watch paper, an old-fashioned ornament for the inside of a watch case, made of paper cut in some fanciful design, as a vase with flowers, etc.

Watch tackle (Naut.), a small, handy purchase, consisting of a tailed double block, and a single block with a hook.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Watch

Watch\, v. i. [Cf. AS. w[oe]ccan, wacian. [root]134. See Watch, n., Wake, v. i. ]

1. To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.

I have two nights watched with you. --Shak.

Couldest thou not watch one hour ? --Mark xiv. 37.

2. To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.

Take ye heed, watch and pray. --Mark xiii. 33.

The Son gave signal high To the bright minister that watched. --Milton.

3. To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. --Ps. cxxx. 6.

4. To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever.

5. (Naut.) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; -- said of a buoy.

To watch over, to be cautiously observant of; to inspect, superintend, and guard.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Watch

Watch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Watched; p. pr. & vb. n. Watching.]

1. To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature.

Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him, and to slay him. --1 Sam. xix. 11

I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity. --Landor.

In lazy mood I watched the little circles die. --Longfellow.

2. To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.

And flaming ministers, to watch and tend Their earthy charge. --Milton.

Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida. --Broome.

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