looking


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look

 (lo͝ok)
v. looked, look·ing, looks
v.intr.
1.
a. To employ one's sight, especially in a given direction or on a given object: looking out the window; looked at the floor.
b. To search: We looked all afternoon but could not find it.
2.
a. To turn one's glance or gaze: looked to the right.
b. To turn one's attention; attend: looked to his neglected guitar during vacation; looked at the evidence.
c. To turn one's expectations: looked to us for a solution.
3. To seem or appear to be: look morose.
4. To face in a specified direction: The cottage looks on the river.
v.tr.
1. To turn one's eyes on: looked him in the eye.
2. To convey by one's expression: looked annoyance at the judge; looked his devotion to me.
3.
a. To have an appearance of conformity with: He looks his age. She dressed up to look the part.
b. To appear to be: looked the fool in one version of the story.
n.
1.
a. The act or instance of looking: I took just one look and I was sure.
b. A gaze or glance expressive of something: gave her a mournful look.
2.
a. Appearance or aspect: a look of great age.
b. looks Physical appearance, especially when pleasing.
c. A distinctive, unified manner of dress or fashion: the preferred look for this fall.
Phrasal Verbs:
look after
To take care of: looked after his younger brother.
look for
1. To search for; seek: looking for my gloves.
2. To expect: Look for a change of weather in March.
look into
To inquire into; investigate: The police looked into the disturbance.
look on (or upon)
To regard in a certain way: looked on them as incompetents.
look out
To be watchful or careful; take care: If you don't look out, you may fall on the ice. We looked out for each other on the trip.
look over
To examine or inspect, often in hasty fashion: looked over the proposal before the meeting.
look to Usage Problem
1. To expect or hope to: He looked to hear from her within a week.
2. To seem about to; promise to: "an 'Action Program,' which ... looked to reduce tariffs on over 1,800 items" (Alan D. Romberg).
look up
1. To search for and find, as in a reference book.
2. To visit: look up an old friend.
3. To become better; improve: Things are at last looking up.
Idioms:
look a gift horse in the mouth
To be critical or suspicious of something one has received without expense.
look alive/sharp Informal
To act or respond quickly: Look alive! We leave in five minutes.
look down on/upon
To regard with contempt or condescension.
look down (one's) nose at/on
To regard with contempt or condescension.
look forward to
To think of (a future event) with pleasurable, eager anticipation: looking forward to graduation.
look in on
To visit: I look in on my grandparents each weekend.
look the other way
To deliberately overlook something: knew the student was cheating but decided to look the other way.
look up to
To admire: looked up to her mother.

[Middle English loken, from Old English lōcian.]
Usage Note: When followed by an infinitive, look often means "expect" or "hope," as in The executives look to increase sales once the economy improves or I'm looking to sell my car in July. In our 1997 survey, the Usage Panel was divided almost evenly on this usage, with 52 percent of the Panelists finding it acceptable and 48 percent rejecting it. In 2008, 55 percent rejected it, suggesting that resistance is not eroding, at least not for use in more formal contexts. The usage has an informal flavor and is popular among sports writers: The Spartans are looking to improve their offensive production. The Cubs look to continue their dominance of their division.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.looking - the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visuallylooking - the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually; "he went out to have a look"; "his look was fixed on her eyes"; "he gave it a good looking at"; "his camera does his looking for him"
sensing, perception - becoming aware of something via the senses
coup d'oeil, glance, glimpse - a quick look
scrutiny - a prolonged intense look
peek, peep - a secret look
squint - the act of squinting; looking with the eyes partly closed
stare - a fixed look with eyes open wide
evil eye - a look that is believed to have the power of inflicting harm
rubber-necking, sightseeing - going about to look at places of interest
observance, watching, observation - the act of observing; taking a patient look
outlook, lookout - the act of looking out
survey, view, sight - the act of looking or seeing or observing; "he tried to get a better view of it"; "his survey of the battlefield was limited"
dekko - British slang for a look
2.looking - the act of searching visuallylooking - the act of searching visually  
search, hunting, hunt - the activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
Adj.1.looking - appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms; "left their clothes dirty looking"; "a most disagreeable looking character"; "angry-looking"; "liquid-looking"; "severe-looking policemen on noble horses"; "fine-sounding phrases"; "taken in by high-sounding talk"
superficial - concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually; "superficial similarities"; "a superficial mind"; "his thinking was superficial and fuzzy"; "superficial knowledge"; "the superficial report didn't give the true picture"; "only superficial differences"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
vyzerajúci
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
References in classic literature ?
A handsome head waiter, with thick pomaded hair parted from the neck upwards, an evening coat, a broad white cambric shirt front, and a bunch of trinkets hanging above his rounded stomach, stood with his hands in the full curve of his pockets, looking contemptuously from under his eyelids while he gave some frigid reply to a gentleman who had stopped him.
Dickon and Mary were sitting on the grass, the tea-basket was repacked ready to be taken back to the house, and Colin was lying against his cushions with his heavy locks pushed back from his forehead and his face looking quite a natural color.
So I do, for I shall never have another chance like this," said Amy, looking sober over one page.
And all from looking at a piece of gold, which did I have it now on Negro Hill or in Corlaer's Hook, I'd not look at it very long ere spending it.
Do what Bradley Headstone would, he could not keep that former flush of impatience out of his face, or so master his eyes as to prevent their again looking anxiously up the river.
"So am I, my boy; but he has to thank you more than me; we must now be looking out for a quiet, genteel place for him, where he will be valued."
Pumblechook appeared to conduct his business by looking across the street at the saddler, who appeared to transact his business by keeping his eye on the coach-maker, who appeared to get on in life by putting his hands in his pockets and contemplating the baker, who in his turn folded his arms and stared at the grocer, who stood at his door and yawned at the chemist.
So you see, Miss, we're doing our best, afore she comes, to--' At this moment Five, who had been anxiously looking across the garden, called out `The Queen!
Well, one Sunday morning I was sitting out here in front of my cabin, with my cat, taking the sun, and looking at the blue hills, and listening to the leaves rustling so lonely in the trees, and thinking of the home away yonder in the states, that I hadn't heard from in thirteen years, when a bluejay lit on that house, with an acorn in his mouth, and says,
While looking in her mirror she had seen fairyland and herself, a princess, just awakening from a long slumber.
They were all muttering together and looking at the top of the boat-house.
Among other things, Kit told them about his old place, and the extraordinary beauty of Nell (of whom he had talked to Barbara a thousand times already); but the last-named circumstance failed to interest his hearers to anything like the extent he had supposed, and even his mother said (looking accidentally at Barbara at the same time) that there was no doubt Miss Nell was very pretty, but she was but a child after all, and there were many young women quite as pretty as she; and Barbara mildly observed that she should think so, and that she never could help believing Mr Christopher must be under a mistake--which Kit wondered at very much, not being able to conceive what reason she had for doubting him.