Akademik

look at

verb

1. take into consideration for exemplifying purposes (Freq. 17)

- Take the case of China

- Consider the following case

• Syn: ↑consider, ↑take, ↑deal

• Derivationally related forms: ↑consideration (for: ↑consider)

• Hypernyms: ↑think about

• Hyponyms: ↑contemplate, ↑dally, ↑trifle, ↑play, ↑abstract, ↑warm to

• Verb Frames:

- Somebody ——s something

- Somebody ——s PP
(for: ↑deal)

2. look at carefully; study mentally (Freq. 6)

- view a problem

• Syn: ↑view, ↑consider

• Derivationally related forms: ↑consideration (for: ↑consider), ↑view (for: ↑view), ↑viewer (for: ↑view)

• Hypernyms: ↑analyze, ↑analyse, ↑study, ↑examine, ↑canvass, ↑canvas

• Hyponyms: ↑contemplate, ↑groak

• Verb Frames:

- Somebody ——s something

* * *

◊ 'see'

When you see something, you are aware of it through your eyes, or you notice it.

We saw the black smoke rising over the barbed wire.

We suddenly saw a boat.

See entry at ↑ see.

◊ 'look at'

When you look at something, you direct your eyes towards it.

He looked at the food on his plate.

People looked at her in astonishment.

See entry at ↑ look.

◊ 'watch'

When you watch something, you pay attention to it using your eyes, because you are interested in what it is doing, or in what may happen.

He watched the newt with interest.

After watch you can use an infinitive without `to' or you can use an `-ing' form. You use an infinitive without `to' when you are referring to a complete event or action.

He watched her climb into a compartment.

You use an `-ing' form when you are referring to an action that was continuing to take place.

They watched Sheila driving around in her yellow car.

◊ sightseeing

If you go somewhere in order to look at something or watch something, you can say that you go to see it.

He went to India to see the Taj Mahal.

We went to the zoo to see the giant pandas.

◊ entertainment and sport

Both see and watch are used when you are talking about entertainment or sport.

When you go to the theatre or cinema, you say that you see a play or film.

I saw `Dear Brutus' on its first night in 1917.

We saw Greta Garbo in `Queen Christina'.

You do not say that someone `looks at' or `watches' a play or film.

You say that someone watches television. However, you can say that someone watches or sees a particular programme.

He spends several hours watching television.

...a rugby match he watched on television.

I saw it on television after the news.

Similarly you say that someone watches a sport such as football, but that they watch or see a particular match.

More people are watching cricket than ever before.

I'd sooner go out with a gun than watch a football match.

...those of us who saw England's defeat at Wrexham.

* * *

look at [phrasal verb]

1 look at (someone or something)

1 a : to think about or consider (something or someone)

Just look at how successful she's been.

The company is looking at the possibility of moving to a larger office.

I just haven't looked at him as (being) a potential roommate.

The way I look at [=see] it, you're wrong.

Some people are looking at her as a possible candidate for mayor.

You can make changes in your life. Just look at Tim. [=consider that Tim has made changes to realize that you can also make changes]

1 b : to examine or study (someone or something)

You should have a doctor look at that bruise.

I had the veterinarian look at my cat.

2 look at (something)

2 a : to have (something bad or unpleasant) as a problem or possibility

If you're found guilty, you could be looking at [=facing] five years in prison.

2 b : to read (something or part of something)

I haven't looked at [=read] the newspaper today.

Did you look at that fax yet?

— see also ↑look 1, 5a (above), 1

• • •

Main Entry: ↑look

Useful english dictionary. 2012.