spy:1

verb
spy \ ˈspī \
13th century{ds|t|1||}
  • to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes
  • to catch sight of : see
  • to search or look for intensively —usually used with out

spy:2

noun
spy \
13th century{ds||1||}
  • one that spies:
  • one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information
  • a person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation; also : a person who conveys the trade secrets of one company to another

spy on

phrasal verb
spy on \
  • to watch (someone) secretly

spy out

phrasal verb
spy out \
  • to notice, find, or learn about (something) by looking often in a secret way

spy out the land

idiom
spy out the land \
  • to find or get more information about a situation secretly and before making a decision
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