gaze Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a long fixed look
regard.
- he fixed his paternal gaze on me
verb look at with fixed eyes
stare.
- The students stared at the teacher with amazement

OE. gasen, akin to dial. Sw. gasa, cf. Goth. us-gaisjan to terrify, us-geisnan to be terrified. Cf. Aghast, Ghastly, Ghost, Hesitate.

imperfect & past participle Gazed ; present participle & verbal noun Gazing

To fixx the eyes in a steady and earnest look; to look with eagerness or curiosity, as in admiration, astonishment, or with studious attention.
Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? Acts i. 11.
Syn. -- To gape; stare; look. -- To Gaze, Gape, Stare. To gaze is to look with fixed and prolonged attention, awakened by excited interest or elevated emotion; to gape is to look fixedly, with open mouth and feelings of ignorant wonder; to stare is to look with the fixedness of insolence or of idiocy. The lover of nature gazes with delight on the beauties of the landscape; the rustic gapes with wonder at the strange sights of a large city; the idiot stares on those around with a vacant look.

To view with attention; to gaze on . R.
And gazed a while the ample sky. Milton.

A fixed look; a look of eagerness, wonder, or admiration; a continued look of attention.
With secret gaze Or open admiration him behold. Milton.
The object gazed on.
Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze. Milton.

I that rather held it better men should perish one by one, Than that earth should stand at gaze like Joshua's moon in Ajalon! Tennyson.