eavesdrop
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eaves·drop
(ēvz′drŏp′)intr.v. eaves·dropped, eaves·drop·ping, eaves·drops
1. To listen secretly to the private conversation of others.
2. To gain access to private electronic communications, as through wiretapping or the interception of email or cell phone calls.
[Probably back-formation from eavesdropper, one who eavesdrops, from Middle English evesdropper, from evesdrop, place where water falls from the eaves, from Old English yfesdrype; see upo in Indo-European roots.]
eaves′drop′per n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
eavesdrop
(ˈiːvzˌdrɒp)vb, -drops, -dropping or -dropped
(intr) to listen secretly to the private conversation of others
[C17: back formation from earlier evesdropper, from Old English yfesdrype water dripping from the eaves; see eaves, drop; compare Old Norse upsardropi]
ˈeavesˌdropper n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
eaves•drop
(ˈivzˌdrɒp)v.i. -dropped, -drop•ping.
to listen secretly to a private conversation.
[before 900; probably back formation from eavesdropper, late Middle English evisdroppyr, appar. literally, one who stands on the evesdrope (the ground on which water from the eaves drips; compare Old English yfesdrype) to listen secretly; see eave, drop, drip]
eaves′drop`per, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
eavesdrop
Past participle: eavesdropped
Gerund: eavesdropping
Imperative |
---|
eavesdrop |
eavesdrop |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | eavesdrop - listen without the speaker's knowledge; "the jealous man was eavesdropping on his wife's conversations" listen - hear with intention; "Listen to the sound of this cello" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
eavesdrop
verb listen in, spy, overhear, bug (informal), pry, tap in, snoop (informal), earwig (informal) The housemaid eavesdropped from behind the kitchen door.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
eavesdrop
verbTo observe or listen in secret to obtain information:
spy.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَتَنَصَّت، يَسْتَرِقُ السَّمْع
aflyttelytte
hallgató zik
liggja á hleri
kas slapta klausosislapta klausytislapta klausytis
slepus noklausīties
tajne počúvať
tjuvlyssna
gizlice dinlemekkulak kabartmak
eavesdrop
[ˈiːvzdrɒp] VI → escuchar a escondidasto eavesdrop on a conversation → escuchar una conversación a escondidas
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
eavesdrop
[ˈiːvzdrɒp] vi → écouter ce qui se ditThe housemaid eavesdropped from behind the kitchen door → La servante écoutait ce qui se disait de derrière la porte de la cuisine.
to eavesdrop on sb → écouter qn (de façon indiscrète)
to eavesdrop on sb's conversation (gen) → écouter les conversations privées de qn; (by phone tapping) → mettre les conversations de qn sur écoute
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
eavesdrop
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
eavesdrop
(ˈiːvzdrop) – past tense, past participle ˈeavesdropped – verb (with on) to listen in order to overhear a private conversation. The child eavesdropped on her parents' discussion.
ˈeavesdropper nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.