watch

Meanings

Noun

• A portable or wearable timepiece.
• The act of guarding and observing someone or something.
• A particular time period when guarding is kept.
• A person or group of people who guard.
• The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
• A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.
• A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length; the officers and crew who tend the working of a vessel during the same watch. (FM 55–501).
• The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.

Verb

• To look at, see, or view for a period of time.
• To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.
• To mind, attend, or guard.
• To be wary or cautious of.
• To attend to dangers to or regarding.
• To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil.
• To be vigilant or on one's guard.
• To act as a lookout.
• To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.
• To be awake.
• To be on the lookout for; to wait for expectantly.

Related

Opposite words

• ignore

Origin

• As a noun, from Middle English wacche, from Old English wæċċe. See below for verb form.
• From Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *wakkjan, from Proto-Germanic *wakjaną.