English Dictionary

Definition of “see”

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1see1 (siːPronunciation for see1) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms: sees, seeing, saw, seen
  1. to perceive with the eyes
  2. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to perceive (an idea) mentally; understand  ⇒ I explained the problem but he could not see it 
  3. (tr) to perceive with any or all of the senses  ⇒ I hate to see you so unhappy 
  4. (tr; may take a clause as object) to be aware of in advance; foresee  ⇒ I can see what will happen if you don't help 
  5. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to ascertain or find out (a fact); learn  ⇒ see who is at the door 
  6. tr, takes a clause as object; when intr, foll by to to make sure (of something) or take care (of something)  ⇒ see that he gets to bed early 
  7. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to consider, deliberate, or decide  ⇒ see if you can come next week 
  8. (tr) to have experience of; undergo  ⇒ he had seen much unhappiness in his life 
  9. (tr) to allow to be in a specified condition  ⇒ I cannot stand by and see a child in pain 
  10. (tr) to be characterized by  ⇒ this period of history has seen much unrest 
  11. (tr) to meet or pay a visit to  ⇒ to see one's solicitor 
  12. (tr) to receive, esp as a guest or visitor  ⇒ the Prime Minister will see the deputation now 
  13. (tr) to frequent the company of  ⇒ she is seeing a married man 
  14. (tr) to accompany or escort  ⇒ I saw her to the door 
  15. (tr) to refer to or look up  ⇒ for further information see the appendix 
  16. (in gambling, esp in poker) to match (another player's bet) or match the bet of (another player) by staking an equal sum
  17. See as far as I can see
  18. See see fit
  19. See see someone hanged first
  20. See see someone right
  21. See see the light
  22. See see you
  23. See you see

See also

see about , see into , see of , see off , see out , see over , see through

Alternative Forms

ˈseeable adjective

Word Origin

Old English sēon;  related to Old Norse sjā,  Gothic saihwan,  Old Saxon sehan

2see2 (siːPronunciation for see2) 

Definitions

noun

  1. the diocese of a bishop, or the place within it where his cathedral or procathedral is situated See also Holy See

Word Origin

C13: from Old French sed,  from Latin sēdēs  a seat; related to sedēre to sit

Quotations

  • "What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over"
  • "What you see is what you get"
  • "Seeing is believing"

Translations

  • British English: see Pronunciation for see If you see something, you are looking at it or you notice it.The fog was so thick we couldn't see anything. It's dark and I can't see.siː VERB The fog was so thick we couldn't see anything. It's dark and I can't see.
  • Spanish: ver Pronunciation for ver v
  • French: voir Pronunciation for voir vt
  • German: sehen Pronunciation for sehen v
  • Chinese: 看见Pronunciation for 看见 vt
  • Arabic: يَرَىPronunciation for يَرَى vt
  • Portuguese: verPronunciation for ver vt
  • Russian: видетьPronunciation for видеть vt
  • Croatian: vidjetiPronunciation for vidjeti v
  • Czech: uvidětPronunciation for uvidět vt vidět
  • Danish: sePronunciation for se v
  • Dutch: zienPronunciation for zien vt
  • Finnish: nähdäPronunciation for nähdä v
  • Greek: βλέπωPronunciation for βλέπω v
  • Italian: vederePronunciation for vedere v
  • Japanese: 見るPronunciation for 見る v
  • Korean: ...을 보다Pronunciation for ...을 보다 vt
  • Norwegian: sePronunciation for se v
  • Polish: zobaczyćPronunciation for zobaczyć vt widzieć
  • Brazilian Portuguese: verPronunciation for ver vt
  • European Spanish: ver Pronunciation for ver v
  • Swedish: sePronunciation for se vt
  • Thai: เห็นPronunciation for เห็น vt
  • Turkish: görmekPronunciation for görmek vt
  • Vietnamese: nhìn thấyPronunciation for nhìn thấy v
  • British English: see If you see someone, you meet them.I saw him yesterday.siː VERB I saw him yesterday.
  • French: voir vt
  • Arabic: يَرَى v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: encontrar vt

Usage examples

  • Then eventually Fiona tapped on the door: `Jamie wants to see you.
    Hugo Wilcken, THE EXECUTION (2002)
  • Wait long enough, and you are sure to see a darting kingfisher, a vivid splash of ultramarine against the brown river.
    Country Life (2004)
  • I think they've done a great deal for rugby in their area and wouldn't like to see them drop down.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • I would hate to see the industry get much smaller, or it'll lose critical mass,' he said.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Finally she did see Antoine Dubois, obstetrician to the second wife of Napoleon.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'S'

Related Terms

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