{ "term": "eye", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "image": "data/images/bo/body_eye.png", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "either of the two organs on the face that you see with", "sensetop": "in somebody's eyes/eye", "labels": "(informal)(formal)(British English)(British English)(disapproving)(both informal, often disapproving)(informal, disapproving)", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The suspect has dark hair and green eyes." }, { "text": "to **close/open** your **eyes**" }, { "text": "to lower your eyes *(= to look down)*" }, { "text": "She **rolled her eyes **in disgust." }, { "text": "Keep your **eyes shut**!" }, { "text": "There were tears in his eyes.", "contextForm": "in somebody's eyes/eye" }, { "text": "I have something in my eye." }, { "text": "She had a haunted look in her dark eyes." }, { "text": "His eyes filled with tears." }, { "text": "The ending was so sad it **brought tears to my eyes**." }, { "text": "I could see a **pair of** blue **eyes** peering out at me." }, { "text": "Her **eyes widened** in disbelief." }, { "text": "His **eyes narrowed** suspiciously." }, { "text": "Their **eyes lit up** when they saw all the presents." }, { "text": "to make/avoid **eye contact** with somebody *(= to look/avoid looking at them at the same time as they look at you)*" }, { "text": "**All eyes were on** him *(= everyone was looking at him)* as he walked on to the stage." }, { "text": "a feast/treat/delight for the eyes" }, { "text": "As my eyes accustomed to the darkness, I could make out a shape by the window." }, { "text": "He drew the curtains to make sure no prying eyes saw what he was doing." }, { "text": "He held up the newspaper to shield his eyes from the sun." }, { "text": "He let his eyes roam around the scene." }, { "text": "He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye." }, { "text": "He turned his eyes to the door when he heard the handle turning." }, { "text": "Her bleary eyes showed that she hadn't slept." }, { "text": "Her eyes danced with amusement." }, { "text": "Her eyes dilated with horror at what she had done." }, { "text": "Her eyes flew open in surprise." }, { "text": "Her eyes glazed over when I said I worked in dictionaries." }, { "text": "Her eyes prickled with unshed tears." }, { "text": "Her eyes squinted against the brightness." }, { "text": "His eyes blazed with menace." }, { "text": "Her eyes told me nothing." }, { "text": "His eyes bulged in fury." }, { "text": "His eyes crinkled up at the corners as he smiled." }, { "text": "His eyes darted from face to face." }, { "text": "His eyes drifted over to Helen's chair." }, { "text": "His eyes hardened as he remembered how they had laughed at him." }, { "text": "His eyes held a mischievous gleam." }, { "text": "His eyes never left mine." }, { "text": "His eyes reflected his anguish." }, { "text": "His eyes rounded in mock amazement." }, { "text": "His eyes were drawn to a bundle of papers in the corner." }, { "text": "His narrow eyes betrayed his impatience." }, { "text": "I didn't want to strain my eyes to read, so I put the light on." }, { "text": "If I hadn't seen his jump with my own eyes, I would never have believed it possible." }, { "text": "It is essential to wear some form of eye protection." }, { "text": "My eyes followed his every move." }, { "text": "My eyes strained to make anything out in the darkness." }, { "text": "My eyes stream when I chop onions." }, { "text": "My eyes took in every detail as I entered the house for the first time in twenty years." }, { "text": "Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry start forward." }, { "text": "She averted her eyes from his face." }, { "text": "She could feel the old lady's eyes bore into her." }, { "text": "She just looked at me with those big blue eyes of hers." }, { "text": "She laughed, her eyes alight with excitement." }, { "text": "She responded softly, her eyes showing concern." }, { "text": "She tried to sit up, her eyes fixed on Jean's face." }, { "text": "Skiers wear goggles to protect their eyes from the sun." }, { "text": "The dog's hungry eyes were on my sandwich." }, { "text": "The sun was in my eyes and I couldn't see the road." }, { "text": "Their eyes locked together in a battle of wills." }, { "text": "Tina squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip." } ], "topics": ["Body"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["left", "right", "amber"], "verb + eye": ["open", "close", "shut"], "eye + verb": ["dilate", "fly open", "grow wide"], "eye + noun": ["muscles", "socket", "contact"], "preposition": ["in your eyes", "under somebody’s eye"], "phrases": [ "as far as the eye can see", "before your very eyes", "can’t keep your eyes off somebody/​something" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "having the type or number of eyes mentioned", "examples": [ { "text": "a blue-eyed child" }, { "text": "a one-eyed monster" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "the ability to see", "examples": [ { "text": "A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand." }, { "text": "Her skill at working with wood is coupled to a keen eye for design." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["eagle", "good", "keen"], "preposition": ["eye for"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "a particular way of seeing something", "sensetop": "with the eye of somebodywith a… eyeto somebody's eye", "examples": [ { "text": "He looked at the design with the eye of an engineer.", "contextForm": "with the eye of somebody" }, { "text": "She viewed the findings with a critical eye.", "contextForm": "with a… eye" }, { "text": "To my eye, the windows seem out of proportion.", "contextForm": "to somebody's eye" }, { "text": "To an expert eye, the painting is an obvious fake." }, { "text": "He saw his students with new eyes now that he had a child of his own." }, { "text": "You need to look at your website through the user's eyes." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["careful", "cautious", "close"], "preposition": [ "in somebody/​something’s eye", "through somebody’s eyes", "to somebody’s eye" ], "phrases": ["in your mind’s eye"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "the hole in the end of a needle that you put the thread through", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "a small thin piece of metal curved round, that a small hook fits into, used for fastening clothes", "examples": [ { "text": "It fastens with a **hook and eye**." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 7, "definition": "a calm area at the centre of a storm, etc.", "sensetop": "the eye of a/the storm, tornado, hurricane, etc.", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [], "topics": ["The environment"] }, { "senseNumber": 8, "definition": "a dark mark on a potato from which another plant will grow", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a person or thing that is loved more than any other", "examples": [ { "text": "She is the apple of her father's eye." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to the horizon (= where the sky meets the land or sea)", "examples": [ { "text": "The bleak moorland stretched on all sides as far as the eye could see." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to open and close your eyes quickly, in a way that is supposed to be attractive", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be watching somebody/something carefully and with a lot of interest", "examples": [ { "text": "The kids were all eyes as he slowly unwrapped the package." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "people all have different ideas about what is beautiful", "labels": "(saying)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "in somebody’s presence; in front of somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "He had seen his life's work destroyed before his very eyes." }, { "text": "Before our very eyes, the bird snatched the fish from the plate and flew off." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to have a lot of something to deal with", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "We're up to our eyes in work." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a view of something from a high position looking down", "examples": [ { "text": "From the plane we had a bird's-eye view of Manhattan." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look at or examine something quickly", "examples": [ { "text": "Could you just run your eyes over this report?" }, { "text": "I cast my eyes around the room but couldn't see any familiar faces." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to attract somebody’s attention", "examples": [ { "text": "Can you catch the waiter's eye?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to see somebody/something", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I haven't clapped eyes on them for weeks." }, { "text": "I hope I never set eyes on this place again!" }, { "text": "Tom fell in love the moment he laid eyes on her." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look at or listen to something/somebody carefully and with a lot of attention", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "pleasant to listen to or look at", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "pleasant to look at", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to show that you do not believe somebody/something", "labels": "(old-fashioned, informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "‘It's an antique.’ ‘An antique, my eye!’" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that you should punish somebody by doing to them what they have done to you or to somebody else", "labels": "(saying)", "examples": [ { "text": "They advocate a justice system that works on the principle of an eye for an eye." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that somebody has been greedy by taking more food than they can eat", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look at somebody/something and get great pleasure", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be seen only by a particular person", "examples": [ { "text": "I'll lend you the letters but they're for your eyes only." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to practise so that you are able to make good judgements about a task or activity that you are doing", "labels": "(British English)", "examples": [ { "text": "I've got my eye in now—the ball is landing just where I want it." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be able to judge if things look attractive, valuable, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "I've never had much of an eye for fashion." }, { "text": "She has an eye for a bargain." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to be watching somebody carefully, especially to check that they do not do anything wrong", "examples": [ { "text": "And remember, I'll have my eye on you so you'd better behave." }, { "text": "The store detective had his eye on a group of boys who were acting suspiciously." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to be thinking about asking somebody out, offering somebody a job, etc. because you think they are attractive, good at their job, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "He's got his eye on the new girl in your class." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be thinking about buying something", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be aware of everything that is happening around you, even things that seem difficult or impossible to see", "examples": [ { "text": "You can’t get away with anything in her class. She has eyes in the back of her head." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be able to notice or see everything", "examples": [ { "text": "She's bound to notice that chipped glass. The woman has eyes like a hawk!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look at or watch something while doing something else, especially in a secret way so that other people do not notice", "examples": [ { "text": "During his talk, most of the delegates had one eye on the clock." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to always be looking for the chance to have a new sexual relationship", "labels": "(old-fashioned)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be very obvious to somebody", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "very quickly; in a short time", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "in somebody’s opinion or according to the way that they see the situation", "examples": [ { "text": "She can do no wrong in her father's eyes." }, { "text": "To Western eyes, it may seem that the city is overcrowded." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "according to the law, most people in the world, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "In the eyes of the law she is guilty, though few ordinary people would think so." }, { "text": "In the eyes of the law his knife was an offensive weapon." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "well known to many people through television, newspapers, the internet, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "She doesn't want her children growing up in the public eye." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "very quickly", "examples": [ { "text": "Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, her whole life had been turned upside down." } ], "synonyms": "instant (1)" }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to watch somebody/something carefully", "examples": [ { "text": "Over the next few months we will keep a close eye on sales." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to listen or look out for somebody/something that you might hear or see", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to take care of somebody/something and make sure that they are not harmed, damaged, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "We've asked the neighbours to keep an eye on the house for us while we are away." }, { "text": "Could you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the toilet?" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to continue to give your attention to what is most important", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look for somebody/something while you are doing other things", "examples": [ { "text": "Police have asked residents to keep an eye out for anything suspicious." }, { "text": "I walked around the store, keeping an eye out for bargains." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look out for somebody/something that you might see", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look out for somebody/something that you might see", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "We kept our eyes peeled for any signs of life." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to watch somebody/something carefully in case you need to take action", "examples": [ { "text": "Keep a weather eye on your competitors." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look straight at somebody without feeling embarrassed or ashamed", "examples": [ { "text": "Can you look me in the eye and tell me you're not lying?" }, { "text": "She looked her father straight in the eye and answered his question truthfully." }, { "text": "I'll never be able to look her in the face again!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to look at somebody in a way that shows that you find them sexually attractive", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "He's definitely giving you the eye!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "if you meet somebody’s eye(s), you look directly at them as they look at you; if two people’s eyes meet, they look directly at each other", "examples": [ { "text": "She was afraid to meet my eye." }, { "text": "Their eyes met across the crowded room." }, { "text": "She met his gaze without flinching." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "if a sight meets your eyes, you see it", "sensetop": "meet somebody’s eye(s) your eyes", "examples": [ { "text": "A terrible sight met their eyes." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "your imagination", "examples": [ { "text": "He pictured the scene in his mind's eye." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "the normal power of your eyes without the help of an instrument", "examples": [ { "text": "The planet should be visible **with/to the naked eye**." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to show no surprise or concern when something unusual happens", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "She didn't bat an eyelid when I told her my news." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be very surprised at something you hear/see", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked in." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be very surprised at something you see", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked in." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that everyone was very emotional about something", "labels": "(humorous)", "examples": [ { "text": "There wasn't a dry eye in the house when they announced their engagement." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to not share the same views as somebody about something", "examples": [ { "text": "The two of them have never seen eye to eye on politics." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to find somebody/something so interesting, attractive, etc. that you watch them all the time", "examples": [ { "text": "He couldn't keep his eyes off the girl sitting opposite him." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a result, action, etc. that is disappointing or a defeat for somebody/something", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "The appointment of a woman was one in the eye for male domination." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be in love with only one particular person", "examples": [ { "text": "He's only ever had eyes for his wife." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to realize or make somebody realize the truth about something", "examples": [ { "text": "Travelling really opens your eyes to other cultures." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be very attractive to look at", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to hide your real actions or intentions from somebody by making them believe something that is not true", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to think about or see something the way that another person sees it", "examples": [ { "text": "Try looking at it through her eyes for a change." }, { "text": "Events are seen through the eyes of a Polish refugee." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to see something by accident or not very clearly because you see it from the side of your eye and are not looking straight at it", "examples": [ { "text": "Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him coming closer." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to pretend that you have not noticed something so that you do not have to deal with it", "examples": [ { "text": "You can't just close your eyes to his violence." }, { "text": "They seem intent on shutting their eyes to the problems of pollution." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a person or thing that you are pleased to see; something that is very pleasant to look at", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to stop giving your attention to what is most important", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a person or thing is more complicated or interesting than you might think at first", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to pretend not to notice something bad that is happening, so you do not have to do anything about it", "examples": [ { "text": "The authorities were either unaware of the problem or they turned a blind eye to it." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "being watched carefully by somebody", "examples": [ { "text": "The children played under the watchful eye of their father." }, { "text": "I want you under my eye." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "if a person does not know about something that they would normally think was bad, then it cannot hurt them", "labels": "(saying)", "examples": [ { "text": "What does it matter if I use his flat while he’s away? What the eye doesn’t see…!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "with the hope of using a particular situation in order to gain some advantage for yourself", "labels": "(British English, usually disapproving)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "fully aware of the possible problems or results of a particular course of action", "examples": [ { "text": "I went into this with my eyes open so I guess I only have myself to blame." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "very easily, without thinking about it", "examples": [ { "text": "I've made this trip so often, I could do it with my eyes shut." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "with the intention of doing something", "examples": [ { "text": "He bought the warehouse with an eye to converting it into a hotel." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/aɪ/", "audio": "ey/eye/eye__gb_2.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/aɪ/", "audio": "ey/eye/eye__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Old English ēage, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch oog and German Auge." }