spy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
    undercover agent.
  2. noun a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people
    • my spies tell me that you had a good time last night
  3. verb catch sight of
    espy; spot; descry.
  4. verb watch, observe, or inquire secretly
    sleuth; snoop; stag.
  5. verb catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes
    sight.
    • he caught sight of the king's men coming over the ridge
  6. verb secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage
    • spy for the Russians

WordNet

Spy transitive verb
Etymology
OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. épier, OHG. spehn, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa(). 169. Cf. Espy, v.t., Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect, Conspicuouc, Despise, Frontispiece, Inspect, Prospect, Respite, Scope, Scecimen, Spectacle, Specter, Speculate, Spice, Spite, Suspicion.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Spied ; present participle & verbal noun Spying
Definitions
  1. To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see.
    One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. Swift.
  2. To discover by close search or examination.
    Look about with yout eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. Latimer.
  3. To explore; to view; inspect; and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out.
    Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Num. xxi. 32.
Spy intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
    It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. Shak.
Spy noun
Etymology
See Spy, v., and cf. Espy, n.
Wordforms
plural Spies
Definitions
  1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. "These wretched spies of wit." Dryden.
  2. (Mil.) A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer. Syn. -- See Emissary, and Scout.

Webster 1913