keeping watch over

  • 1watch — [wäch, wôch] n. [ME wacche < OE wæcce < base of wacian: see WAKE1] 1. the act or fact of keeping awake, esp. of keeping awake and alert, in order to look after, protect, or guard 2. a) any of the several periods into which the night was… …

    English World dictionary

  • 2watch — 1 verb 1 LOOK AT (I, T) to look at and pay attention to something that is happening: Do you want to join in or just sit and watch? | watch sb/sth: Harriet watched the man with interest as he walked in. | watch sb do/doing sth: Jack watched them… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 3watch — /woch/, v.i. 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 …

    Universalium

  • 4watch — /wɒtʃ / (say woch) verb (i) 1. to be on the lookout, look attentively, or be closely observant, as to see what comes, is done, happens, etc.: to watch while an experiment is performed. 2. to be careful or cautious. 3. to keep awake, especially… …

  • 5watch — watch1 W1S1 [wɔtʃ US wa:tʃ, wo:tʃ] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(look)¦ 2¦(be careful)¦ 3¦(pay attention)¦ 4¦(care for)¦ 5¦(secretly)¦ 6 watch your step 7 watch your back 8 watch the clock 9 watch the time 10 watch it …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 6watch — watch1 [ watʃ ] verb *** 1. ) intransitive or transitive to look at someone or something for a period of time: Have you been watching the presidential campaign? Tourists watched quietly as the villagers performed a traditional dance. watch… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 7watch — I [[t]wɒ̱tʃ[/t]] LOOKING AND PAYING ATTENTION ♦ watches, watching, watched (Please look at category 15 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.) 1) VERB If you watch someone or something, you look at them,… …

    English dictionary

  • 8watch — I UK [wɒtʃ] / US [wɑtʃ] verb Word forms watch : present tense I/you/we/they watch he/she/it watches present participle watching past tense watched past participle watched *** 1) [intransitive/transitive] to look at someone or something for a… …

    English dictionary

  • 9watch*/*/*/ — [wɒtʃ] verb I 1) [I/T] to look at someone or something for a period of time Did you watch the news last night?[/ex] We watched helplessly as the car rolled into the river.[/ex] Jill watched the children build sandcastles.[/ex] We arrived early to …

    Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • 10watch — [[t]wɒtʃ[/t]] v. i. 1) to look attentively, as to see what is done or happens; observe 2) to wait attentively and expectantly (usu. fol. by for): to watch for a signal[/ex] 3) to be careful or cautious: Watch when you cross the street[/ex] 4) to… …

    From formal English to slang