̈ɪwɔtʃ v. & n. --v. 1 tr.
keep the eyes fixed
on;
look at attentively. 2 tr. a keep
under observation;
follow observantly. b
monitor or
consider carefully; pay
attention to (have to watch my
weight; watched
their progress with interest). 3 intr. (often foll. by for) be in an
alert state; be
vigilant;
take heed (watch
for the holes in the road; watch for an opportunity). 4 intr. (foll. by over) look
after; take
care of. 5 intr.
archaic remain awake for devotions etc. --n. 1 a
small portable timepiece for carrying on one's
person. 2 a state of alert or
constant observation or attention. 3 Naut. a a four-hour spell of
duty. b (in full
starboard or
port watch)
each of the
halves, divided
according to the
position of the bunks,
into which a ship's crew is divided to take
alternate watches. 4
hist. a
watchman or
group of watchmen,
esp. patrolling the streets at
night. 5 a former
division of the night. 6 a
period of wakefulness at night. 7 hist.
irregular Highland troops in the 18th c. øon the watch
waiting for an expected or feared
occurrence. set the watch Naut.
station sentinels etc. watch-case the
outer metal case enclosing the works of a watch. watch-chain a metal
chain for securing a pocket-watch. Watch
Committee hist. (in the UK) the committee of a
county borough council dealing with policing etc. watch-glass 1 a
glass disc covering the
dial of a watch. 2 a
similar disc used in a
laboratory etc. to hold
material for
use in experiments. watching
brief see BRIEF. watch it (or oneself) colloq. be
careful. watch-night 1 the last night of the
year. 2 a
religious service
held on
this night. watch
out 1 (often foll. by for) be on one's
guard. 2 as a
warning of
immediate danger. watch-spring the
mainspring of a watch. watch one's
step proceed cautiously. watch-strap esp.
Brit. a
strap for
fastening a watch on the
wrist. watch-tower a
tower from which observation can be
kept. øøwatchable adj. watcher n. (also in comb.). [OE wócce (n.), rel. to WAKE(1)]
