n (1)间谍(person employed esp by a government，to obtain secret information or intelligence about another country)[C]：a foreign/military～外国/军事间谍;be suspected of being a～被怀疑是间谍;be arrested as a～作为间谍被捕;a～plane/ring/network;间谍飞机/集团/网;～trial 对间谍嫌疑犯进行的审讯;〖同〗operative，informer;

(2)侦(密)探，窃取情报者(person who secretly seeks information concerning persons，projects，or the like，esp for profit)[C]：industrial/police～ies 工业间谍/警探;

→′spy-glass n 小型望远镜;′spy-hole n 观察孔;

v (1)作间谍;窥(监)视，侦察(探)(work as a spy;watch secretly)[I，I+prep (on/into)]：S～ing is dangerous. 从事间谍活动是危险的。～for the enemy 为敌人充当间谍;be expelled for～ing 因从事间谍活动而被驱逐出境;Don't～on me/your neighbour. 别在暗中监视我/你的邻居。～on the enemy submarines/army监视敌人的潜艇/军队;～into other people's affairs 窥探他人的事;〖同〗shadow，scout;

(2)看见，注意到，发现(catch sight of;see;notice)[T+n，C+n+-ing][通常不用prog](fml，joc)：～a small bird in the tree/a human figure on the hill-side 发现树上有一只小鸟/山坡上有个人影;～sb trying to hide behind a tree/coming the path 发现某人试图藏在树后/从小路上走来;〖同〗see，observe，spot，sight，detect;

spy out the land 摸清情况：He sent forward a few scouts to～out the land. 他派出了几个侦察员去了解情况。

spy out (v adv)侦察出，暗中探明(vt)：The detective～ied out the suspected thief. 侦探查明了那个盗窃嫌疑人。