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Eavesdrop vs Spy - What's the difference?

eavesdrop | spy |

As verbs the difference between eavesdrop and spy

is that eavesdrop is (to hear a conversation one is not intended to hear)To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in while spy is to act as a spy.

As nouns the difference between eavesdrop and spy

is that eavesdrop is the dripping of rain from the eaves of a house while spy is a person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).

eavesdrop

English

Verb

(eavesdropp)
  • (senseid)To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in.
    • I hope nobody was eavesdropping on our conversation last night, since it got so personal.

    Usage notes

    To eavesdrop usually implies the listener is purposefully trying to hear the conversation of others. To (overhear) is more often accidental.

    Synonyms

    * (hear conversation one is not intended to hear) overhear

    Derived terms

    * eavesdropper

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The dripping of rain from the eaves of a house
  • The space around a house on which such water drips
  • A concealed aperture through which an occupant of a building can surreptitiously listen to people talking at an entrance to the building
  • The act of intentionally hearing a conversation not intended to be heard

    • Synonyms

    * eavesdrip

    spy

    English

    Noun

    (spies)
  • A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=55, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Travels and travails , passage=Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.}}

    Derived terms

    * spy ring

    Verb

  • 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.
    • I think I can spy that hot guy coming over here.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration.
  • * Latimer
    • Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England.
  • To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
  • * Shakespeare
    • It is my nature's plague / To spy into abuses.
  • To explore; to view; inspect and examine secretly, as a country.
  • * Bible, Numbers xxi. 32
    • Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof.

    Derived terms

    * spy on

    Related terms

    * spyglass * spyware

    See also

    *

    Anagrams

    * ---- ==Norwegian Bokmål==

    Noun

  • barf (US), vomit, spew

    • Verb

  • to barf (US), throw up, vomit, spew (also figurative )

    • Synonyms

    * (l)

    References

    * ----