watch Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a small portable timepiece
    ticker.
  2. noun a period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty
  3. noun a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
    vigil.
  4. noun the period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty
  5. noun a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
    lookout; picket; sentry; lookout man; scout; spotter; sentinel.
  6. noun the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)
    vigil.
  7. verb look attentively
    • watch a basketball game
  8. verb follow with the eyes or the mind
    watch over; follow; observe; keep an eye on.
    • Keep an eye on the baby, please!
    • The world is watching Sarajevo
    • She followed the men with the binoculars
  9. verb see or watch
    catch; see; take in; view.
    • view a show on television
    • This program will be seen all over the world
    • view an exhibition
    • Catch a show on Broadway
    • see a movie
  10. verb observe with attention
    look on.
    • They watched as the murderer was executed
  11. verb be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful
    look out; watch out.
    • Watch out for pickpockets!
  12. verb observe or determine by looking
    • Watch how the dog chases the cats away
  13. verb find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
    learn; see; determine; ascertain; find out; check.
    • I want to see whether she speaks French
    • See whether it works
    • find out if he speaks Russian
    • Check whether the train leaves on time

WordNet

Watch noun
Etymology
OE. wacche, AS. wæcce, fr. wacian to wake; akin to D. wacht, waak, G. wacht, wache. . See Wake, v. i.
Definitions
  1. The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night.
    Shepherds keeping watch by night. Milton.
    All the long night their mournful watch they keep. Addison.
    ✍ Watch was formerly distinguished from ward, the former signifying a watching or guarding by night, and the latter a watching, guarding, or protecting by day Hence, they were not unfrequently used together, especially in the phrase to keep watch and ward, to denote continuous and uninterrupted vigilance or protection, or both watching and guarding. This distinction is now rarely recognized, watch being used to signify a watching or guarding both by night and by day, and ward, which is now rarely used, having simply the meaning of guard, or protection, without reference to time.
    Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward. Spenser.
    Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins when ward ends, and ends when that begins. Blackstone.
  2. One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.
    Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. Matt. xxvii. 65.
  3. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
    He upbraids Iago, that he made him Brave me upon the watch. Shak.
  4. The period of the night during which a person does duty as a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.
    I did stand my watch upon the hill. Shak.
    Might we but hear . . . Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock Count the night watches to his feathery dames. Milton.
  5. A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring. or electric or electronic mechanisms. ✍ Watches are often distinguished by the kind of escapement used, as an anchor watch, a lever watch, a chronometer watch, etc. (see the Note under Escapement, n., 3); also, by the kind of case, as a gold or silver watch, an open-faced watch, a hunting watch, or hunter, etc.
  6. (Naut.) (a) An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf. Dogwatch. (b) That part, usually one half, of the officers and crew, who together attend to the working of a vessel for an allotted time, usually four hours. The watches are designated as the port watch, and the starboard watch.
Watch intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. AS. w&oe;ccan, wacian. See Watch, n., Wake, v. i.
Definitions
  1. To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.
    I have two nights watched with you. Shak.
    Couldest thou not watch one hour ? Mark xiv. 37.
  2. To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.
    Take ye heed, watch and pray. Mark xiii. 33.
    The Son gave signal high To the bright minister that watched. Milton.
  3. To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.
    My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. Ps. cxxx. 6.
  4. To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever.
  5. (Naut.) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; -- said of a buoy.
Watch transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Watched ; present participle & verbal noun Watching
Definitions
  1. To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature.
    Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him, and to slay him. 1 Sam. xix. 11
    I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity. Landor.
    In lazy mood I watched the little circles die. Longfellow.
  2. To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.
    And flaming ministers, to watch and tend Their earthy charge. Milton.
    Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida. Broome.

Webster 1913