Watches

watch  (wch)

v. watched, watch·ing, watch·es

v.intr.

1. To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant: watching for trail markers.

2. To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation: watch for an opportunity.

3. To act as a spectator; look on: stood by the road and watched.

4. To stay awake at night while serving as a guard, sentinel, or watcher.

5. To stay alert as a devotional or religious exercise; keep vigil.

v.tr.

1. To look at steadily; observe carefully or continuously: watch a parade.

2. To keep a watchful eye on; guard: watched the prisoner all day.

3. To observe the course of mentally; keep up on or informed about: watch the price of gold.

4. To tend (a flock, for example). See Synonyms at tend².

n.

1. The act or process of keeping awake or mentally alert, especially for the purpose of guarding.

2.

a. The act of observing closely or the condition of being closely observed; surveillance.

b. A period of close observation, often in order to discover something: a watch during the child's illness.

3. A person or group of people serving, especially at night, to guard or protect.

4. The post or period of duty of a guard, sentinel, or watcher.

5. Any of the periods into which the night is divided; a part of the night.

6. Nautical

a. 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.

b. The members of a ship's crew on duty during a specific watch.

c. A chronometer on a ship.

7.

a. A period of wakefulness, especially one observed as a religious vigil.

b. A funeral wake.

8. A small portable timepiece, especially one worn on the wrist or carried in the pocket.

9. A flock of nightingales. See Synonyms at flock¹.

Phrasal Verbs:

watch out

To be careful or on the alert; take care.

watch over

To be in charge of; superintend.

Idioms:

watch it

To be careful: had to watch it when I stepped onto the ice.

watch (one's) step

1. To act or proceed with care and caution.

2. To behave as is demanded, required, or appropriate.

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