observe
verbnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//əbˈzɜːv//
- United Kingdom//ɒbˈzɜːv//
- Canada//əbˈzɝv//
To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
verb
- 1
To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
From this vantage point we can observe the behavior of the animals in their natural habitat.
She got up before dawn to observe the lunar eclipse.
“One horse?” interjected Holmes. ¶ “Yes, only one.” ¶ “Did you observe the colour?”
An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.
- 2
To follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).
Please observe all posted speed limits.
Some of them have, in fact, given them a theoretical elaboration which for subtlety, refinement, and elegance need make no apologies to the older economics, and which remains faithful to older theorizing in at least one respect, that the tradition of unintelligibility to the layman is scrupulously observed.
A sell-out crowd of 10,000 then observed perfectly a period of silence before the team revealed their black armbands, complete with stitched-in poppies, for the match. After Fifa’s about-turn, it must have been a frantic few days for the England kit manufacturer. The on-field challenge was altogether more straightforward.
- 3
To take note of and celebrate (a holiday or similar occurrence), to keep; to follow (a type of time or calendar reckoning).
Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread.
On Sunday, most of Canada will observe daylight time and spring forward an hour in order to reflect the increasing sunlight.
- 4
To comment on something; to make an observation.
The senator observed that the bill would be detrimental to his constituents.
Again, I farther obſerve, that as man is a compound being, ſo this renders him capable of ſeveral diſtinct kinds of pleaſure [...]
Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
Etymology
From Middle French observer, from Old French observer, from Latin observō (“to watch”), from ob- (“before”) + servō (“to keep”), from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to guard”). Cognate with Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐍂𐍅𐌰 (sarwa, “weapons, armour”), Old English searu (“device”).
noun
- 1
archaicAn observation (remark, comment or judgement).
“It sticks in my mind that he would take it very ill,” says Alan. “But the little man cried to me to run, and indeed I thought it was a good observe, and ran. The last that I saw they were all in a knot upon the beach, like folk that were not agreeing very well together.”
Forms
- plural
- observes
- past tense
- observed
- past participle
- observed
- present participle
- observing
- third person singular
- observes
observe · To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
observed · Exceptionally celebrated on a date other than the usual date.observer · One who makes observations, monitors or takes notice.observing · observation