watch

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A portable or wearable timepiece.

   • Meronyms: watch face, watch receiver, watchspring, watch battery, watchstrap, watch strap, watchband
   • More people today carry a watch on their wrists than in their pockets; some people today don't use a watch at all, because their smartphone serves the purpose well enough.
   • He set the alarm on his watch to 8:00 am.
2. 2

   The act of guarding and observing someone or something.

   • shepherds keeping watch by night
   • All the long night their mournful watch they keep.
3. 3

   A particular time period when guarding is kept.

   • The second watch of the night began at midnight.
   • I did stand my watch upon the hill.
   • Might we but hear […] Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock Count the night watches to his feathery dames.
4. ›+ 17 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A period of wakefulness between the two sleeps of a biphasic sleep pattern (the dead…

      A period of wakefulness between the two sleeps of a biphasic sleep pattern (the dead sleep or first sleep and morning sleep or second sleep): the first waking.

   2. 5

      A person or group of people who guard.

      • The watch stopped the travelers at the city gates.
      • Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
   3. 6

      The post or office of a watchman

      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.
   4. 7

      A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of…

      A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.

   5. 8

      A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length

      A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length; the officers and crew who tend the working of a vessel during the same watch. (FM 55–501).

   6. 9

      The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.

      • A quick watch of Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange sends this reality home fast. Amoral, vacuous, cold-blooded, unsympathetic, and chillingly evil describe only parts of the story.
      • The first third of the film is laugh after laugh; […] But half an hour in and this movie gets unnervingly dark and is an uncomfortable watch at times.
   7. 10

      To look at, see, or view for a period of time.

      • Watching the clock will not make time go faster.
      • I'm tired of watching TV.
   8. 11

      To observe over a period of time

      To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.

      • Watch this!
      • Put a little baking soda in some vinegar and watch what happens.
   9. 12

      To mind, attend, or guard.

      • Please watch my suitcase for a minute.
      • He has to watch the kids that afternoon.
   10. 13

       To be wary or cautious of.

       • You should watch that guy. He has a reputation for lying.
   11. 14

       To attend to dangers to or regarding.

       • watch your head; watch your step
       • Watch yourself when you talk to him.
       • Watch what you say.
   12. 15

       To remain awake with a sick or dying person

       To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil.

       • At the funeralls in Yorkeshire, to this day, they continue the custome of watching & sitting-up all night till the body is interred.
   13. 16

       To be vigilant or on one's guard.

       • For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away.
   14. 17

       To act as a lookout.

   15. 18

       To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.

   16. 19

       To be awake.

       • So on the morne Sir Trystram, Sir Gareth and Sir Dynadan arose early and went unto Sir Palomydes chambir, and there they founde hym faste aslepe, for he had all nyght wacched […]
   17. 20

       To be on the lookout for

       To be on the lookout for; to wait for expectantly.

       • [S]he had reason to dread that her husband had formed a very criminal project of being revenged on Zeluco, and watched an opportunity of putting it in execution.

The neighborhood

• antonymignore
• neighborwait
• neighborwake