(pl. -ies)
1- a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor间谍。
1.1
- a person who keeps watch on others secretly密探, 暗探：
as modifier a spy camera.间谍相机。
(-ies, -ied)no obj.
1- work for a government or other organization by secretly collecting information about enemies or competitors当间谍, 从事间谍活动：
he agreed to spy for the West.
他同意作西方国家的间谍。
1.1
spy on
observe (someone) furtively暗中监视, 暗中观察：the couple were spied on by reporters.
这对夫妇受到记者盯梢。
1.2
- with obj. discern or make out, especially by careful observation认出; 看出：
he could spy a figure in the distance.
他能看出远处有人影。
1.3
- with obj.
spy something out
collect information about something to use in deciding how to act侦察出; 探明, 查明： he would go and spy out the land.
他将去探明地形。
词源
Middle English: shortening of Old French espie 'espying', espier 'espy', of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin specere 'behold, look'.