spy

Noun
  1. (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors (synset 110661153)
    referred to in: armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation
    is a type of: intelligence agent, intelligence officer, operative, secret agent - a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
    subtypes:
    • counterspy, mole - a spy who works against enemy espionage
    • double agent - a spy who works for two mutually antagonistic countries
    • espionage agent - someone employed to spy on another country or business competitor
    • foreign agent - a spy for a foreign country
    • infiltrator - someone who takes up a position surreptitiously for the purpose of espionage
    • sleeper - a spy or saboteur or terrorist planted in an enemy country who lives there as a law-abiding citizen until activated by a prearranged signal
    specific instances: margarete gertrud zelle, mata hari - Dutch dancer who was executed by the French as a German spy in World War I (1876-1917)
    same as: undercover agent
  2. A secret watcher;
    Someone who secretly watches other people (synset 110661549)
    "my spies tell me that you had a good time last night"
    is a type of: looker, spectator, viewer, watcher, witness - a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
    subtypes:
    • snoop, snooper - a spy who makes uninvited inquiries into the private affairs of others
    • shadow, shadower, tail - a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements
Verb
  1. Catch sight of (synset 202158742)
    is a type of: sight, spy - catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes
    same as: descry, espy, spot
  2. Watch, observe, or inquire secretly (synset 200787352)
    entail: enquire, inquire, investigate - conduct an inquiry or investigation of
    is a type of: monitor, supervise - keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance
    same as: sleuth, snoop, stag
  3. Catch sight of;
    To perceive with the eyes (synset 202168177)
    "he caught sight of the king's men coming over the ridge"
    is a type of: comprehend, perceive - to become aware of through the senses
    subtypes:
    same as: sight
  4. Secretly collect sensitive or classified information;
    Engage in espionage (synset 200787132)
    "spy for the Russians"
    is a type of: enquire, inquire, investigate - conduct an inquiry or investigation of

Other Searches