spy
A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
Noun 2 meanings
A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
A defensive player assigned to cover an offensive backfield player man-to-man when they are expected to engage in a running play, but the offensive player does not run with the ball immediately.
Verb 4 meanings
To act as a spy.
“During the Cold War, Russia and America would each spy on each other for recon.”
To spot; to catch sight of; to espy.
“I think I can spy that hot guy coming over here.”
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
To explore; to see; to view; inspect and examine secretly, as a country.
Etymology
From Middle English spien, aphetic variant of earlier espien (“to espy”), from Old French espier (“to spy”), from Frankish *spehōn (“to spy”), from Proto-Germanic *spehōną (“to see, look”), from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- (“to look”). Akin to German spähen (“to spy”), Dutch spieden (“to spy”).
Similar and opposite words
SPY at a glance
SPY has 3 letters and scores 8 points in Scrabble (S 1 + P 3 + Y 4) and 8 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #4,711 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with spy
All rhymes- CRISPY13
- RASPY10
- WISPY13
- ESPY9
- WASPY13
- SUPERSPY15
- COUNTERSPY17
- GASPY11
- PASPY12
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