HyperDic: spy

English > 6 senses of the word *spy*:
NOUN	person	spy, undercover agent	(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
NOUN	person	spy	a secret watcher
VERB	perception	spy, descry, spot, espy	catch sight of
	communication	spy, stag, snoop, sleuth	watch, observe, or inquire secretly
	perception	spy, sight	catch sight of
	communication	spy	secretly collect sensitive or classified information

spy > pronunciation
Sounds	spay'
Rhymes	magpie ... preoccupy: 7 rhymes with pay...

English > *spy*: 6 senses > noun 1, person
Meaning	(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors.
Synonym	undercover agent
Category	military, armed forces, armed services, military machine, war machine	The military forces of a nation
Instances	Mata Hari, Margarete Gertrud Zelle	Dutch dancer who was executed by the French as a German spy in World War I (1876-1917)
Narrower	counterspy, mole	A spy who works against enemy / enemy espionage
	double agent	A spy who works for two mutually antagonistic countries
	espionage agent	someone employed to spy on another country or business competitor
	foreign agent	A spy for a foreign country
	infiltrator	someone who takes up a position surreptitiously for the purpose of espionage
	sleeper	A spy or saboteur or terrorist planted in an enemy country who lives there as a law-abiding citizen until activated by a prearranged signal
Broader	secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative	A person secretly employed in espionage for a government
Spanish	agente secreto, espia, espía
Catalan	agent secret, espia
Verbs	spy	secretly collect sensitive or classified information
Verbs	spy	watch, observe, or inquire secretly

English > *spy*: 6 senses > noun 2, person
Meaning	A secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people.
Narrower	snoop, snooper	A spy who makes uninvited inquiries into the private / private affairs of others
Narrower	tail, shadow, shadower	A spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
Broader	spectator, witness, viewer, watcher, looker	A close observer
Verbs	spy	secretly collect sensitive or classified information
Verbs	spy	watch, observe, or inquire secretly

English > *spy*: 6 senses > verb 1, perception
Meaning	Catch sight of.
Pattern	Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody
Synonyms	descry, spot, espy
Broader	spy, sight	catch sight of
Spanish	acechar, discernir, espiar, ver
Catalan	afigurar, aguaitar, albirar, ataüllar, descobrir, espiar, observar, sotjar
Nouns	spying	the act of detecting something

English > *spy*: 6 senses > verb 2, communication
Meaning	watch, observe, or inquire secretly.
Pattern	Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s PP
Synonyms	stag, snoop, sleuth
Entails	investigate, inquire, enquire	Conduct an inquiry or investigation of
Broader	monitor, supervise	keep tabs on
Spanish	espiar, fisgonear
Catalan	espiar
Nouns	spy	(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
	spy	a secret watcher
	spying	keeping a secret or furtive watch

English > *spy*: 6 senses > verb 3, perception
Meaning	catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes.
Pattern	Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody
Synonym	sight
Narrower	descry, spot, espy, spy	Catch sight of
Narrower	detect, observe, find, discover, notice	Discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
Broader	perceive, comprehend	To become aware of through the senses
Spanish	avistar, divisar, ver
Catalan	albirar, ataüllar, divisar

English > *spy*: 6 senses > verb 4, communication
Meaning	Secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage.
Pattern	Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s PP
Example	"spy for the Russians"
Broader	investigate, inquire, enquire	Conduct an inquiry or investigation of
Spanish	espiar
Catalan	espiar
Nouns	spy	(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
	spy	a secret watcher
	spying	the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes

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