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What is "to look at"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To look at

Look \Look\ (l[oo^]k), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Looked; p. pr. & vb. n. Looking.] [OE. loken, AS. l[=o]cian; akin to G. lugen, OHG. luog[=e]n.]

  1. To direct the eyes for the purpose of seeing something; to direct the eyes toward an object; to observe with the eyes while keeping them directed; -- with various prepositions, often in a special or figurative sense. See Phrases below.

  2. To direct the attention (to something); to consider; to examine; as, to look at an action.

  3. To seem; to appear; to have a particular appearance; as, the patient looks better; the clouds look rainy.

    It would look more like vanity than gratitude.
    --Addison.

    Observe how such a practice looks in another person.
    --I. Watts.

  4. To have a particular direction or situation; to face; to front.

    The inner gate that looketh to north.
    --Ezek. viii. 3.

    The east gate . . . which looketh eastward.
    --Ezek. xi. 1.

  5. In the imperative: see; behold; take notice; take care; observe; -- used to call attention.

    Look, how much we thus expel of sin, so much we expel of virtue.
    --Milton.

    Note: Look, in the imperative, may be followed by a dependent sentence, but see is oftener so used.

    Look that ye bind them fast.
    --Shak.

    Look if it be my daughter.
    --Talfourd.

  6. To show one's self in looking, as by leaning out of a window; as, look out of the window while I speak to you. Sometimes used figuratively.

    My toes look through the overleather.
    --Shak.

  7. To await the appearance of anything; to expect; to anticipate. Looking each hour into death's mouth to fall. --Spenser. To look about, to look on all sides, or in different directions. To look about one, to be on the watch; to be vigilant; to be circumspect or guarded. To look after. (a) To attend to; to take care of; as, to look after children. (b) To expect; to be in a state of expectation. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. --Luke xxi. 26. (c) To seek; to search. My subject does not oblige me to look after the water, or point forth the place where to it is now retreated. --Woodward. To look at, to direct the eyes toward so that one sees, or as if to see; as, to look at a star; hence, to observe, examine, consider; as, to look at a matter without prejudice. To look black, to frown; to scowl; to have a threatening appearance. The bishops thereat repined, and looked black. --Holinshed. To look down on or To look down upon, to treat with indifference or contempt; to regard as an inferior; to despise. To look for. (a) To expect; as, to look for news by the arrival of a ship. ``Look now for no enchanting voice.'' --Milton. (b) To seek for; to search for; as, to look for lost money, or lost cattle. To look forth. (a) To look out of something, as from a window. (b) To threaten to come out. --Jer. vi.

    1. (Rev. Ver.). To look forward to. To anticipate with an expectation of pleasure; to be eager for; as, I am looking forward to your visit. To look into, to inspect closely; to observe narrowly; to examine; as, to look into the works of nature; to look into one's conduct or affairs. To look on.

      1. To regard; to esteem.

        Her friends would look on her the worse.
        --Prior.

      2. To consider; to view; to conceive of; to think of.

        I looked on Virgil as a succinct, majestic writer.
        --Dryden.

      3. To be a mere spectator. I'll be a candleholder, and look on. --Shak. To look out, to be on the watch; to be careful; as, the seaman looks out for breakers. To look through.

        1. To see through.

        2. To search; to examine with the eyes. To look to or To look unto.

          1. To watch; to take care of. ``Look well to thy herds.''
            --Prov. xxvii. 23.

          2. To resort to with expectation of receiving something; to expect to receive from; as, the creditor may look to surety for payment. ``Look unto me, and be ye saved.''
            --Is. xlv. 2

    2. To look up, to search for or find out by looking; as, to look up the items of an account.

      To look up to, to respect; to regard with deference.

Usage examples of "to look at".

But Diamond had him out of the cradle in a moment, set him up on his knee, and told him to look at the light.

Vinnie would often drive executives, architects, and contractors up to Westchester to look at developments I was building.

It seemed, to our excited imaginations, to look at us with its terrible hollow eyes.

It is my duty also to look at each elininyil as it emerges from the sea because in the efenburu in the sea it is not as it is in the city .

Gunugul signed obedience to commands as Fafnepto turned one eye to look at Vaintè.

The light glared so vividly that he was no longer able to look at it.

Homat gasped at the chill and tried not to look at the intimidating alien machines they were using on his body.

This vision enables the viewer to look at those things seen by all living things, but to look beyond the surface to the unseen but present true order of existence.

Then the girl twisted away and ran over to look at the mastodon who stood placidly chewing a great mouthful of leaves.

Shuffling in crowds through the streets, stopping to look at anything of interest, faceless, nameless, identical.

But from the moment those bumps made their bow inside her blue school shirt, the young men, the older men she would see in the street or in shops seemed to look at her in a new way.

Trag grunted, and as Camsan turned to look at the warriors around them, he was forced to admit that his ally might have a point.