- eavesdrop
- eaves|drop [ `ivz,drap ] verb intransitiveto listen to other people's conversation without them knowing that you are listening
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
eavesdrop
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eavesdrop — eaves·drop vi eaves·dropped, eaves·drop·ping: to listen secretly to what is being said in private without the consent of the speaker compare bug, wiretap eaves·drop·per n Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster … Law dictionary
Eavesdrop — Eaves drop ([=e]vz dr[o^]p ), v. i. [Eaves + drop.] To stand under the eaves, near a window or at the door, of a house, to listen and learn what is said within doors; hence, to listen secretly to what is said in private. [1913 Webster] To… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
eavesdrop — ► VERB (eavesdropped, eavesdropping) ▪ secretly listen to a conversation. DERIVATIVES eavesdropper noun. ORIGIN from obsolete eavesdrop «the ground on to which water drips from the eaves» … English terms dictionary
eavesdrop — [ēvz′dräp΄] n. [ME evesdrop, altered (after drop, DROP) < OE yfesdrype: see EAVES & DRIP] Rare water that drips from the eaves, or the ground on which it drips vi. eavesdropped, eavesdropping [prob. back form. < eavesdropper, lit., one who… … English World dictionary
Eavesdrop — Eaves drop , n. The water which falls in drops from the eaves of a house. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
eavesdrop — c.1600, probably a back formation from EAVESDROPPER (Cf. eavesdropper). Related: Eavesdropping … Etymology dictionary
eavesdrop — [v] listen without permission be all ears*, bend an ear*, bug, ears into*, listen in, monitor, overhear, pry, snoop, spy, tap, tune in on*, wire, wiretap; concepts 188,596 Ant. ignore … New thesaurus
Eavesdrop — To eavesdrop, used as a verb, refers to eavesdropping, the act of surreptitiously listening to a private conversation.As a noun, in Architecture, it can refer to: * Eavesdrop or eavesdrip, the width of ground around a house or building which… … Wikipedia
eavesdrop — v. (D; intr.) to eavesdrop on (to eavesdrop on a conversation) * * * [ iːvzdrɒp] (D; intr.) to eavesdrop on (to eavesdrop on a conversation) … Combinatory dictionary
eavesdrop — eavesdropper, n. /eevz drop /, v., eavesdropped, eavesdropping, n. v.i. 1. to listen secretly to a private conversation. v.t. 2. Archaic. to eavesdrop on. n. Also, eavesdrip /eevz drip /. 3. water that drips from the eaves. 4. the ground on which … Universalium
eavesdrop — UK [ˈiːvzˌdrɒp] / US [ˈɪvzˌdrɑp] verb [intransitive] Word forms eavesdrop : present tense I/you/we/they eavesdrop he/she/it eavesdrops present participle eavesdropping past tense eavesdropped past participle eavesdropped to listen to other people … English dictionary
