word-vault

{ "term": "observe", "partOfSpeech": "verb", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b2", "verbForms": { "presentSimple": { "iYouWeThey": "observe", "heSheIt": "observes" }, "pastSimple": "observed", "pastParticiple": "observed", "ingForm": "observing" }, "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to see or notice somebody/something", "sensetop": "observe somebody/somethingobserve somebody/something do somethingobserve somebody/something doing somethingobserve that…be observed to do something", "labels": "(formal)", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Have you observed any changes lately?", "contextForm": "observe somebody/something" }, { "text": "All the characters in the novel are closely observed *(= seem like people in real life)*." }, { "text": "I want you to observe all the details." }, { "text": "The patterns observed in our study may represent a general rule." }, { "text": "The police observed a man enter the bank.", "contextForm": "observe somebody/something do something" }, { "text": "They observed him entering the bank.", "contextForm": "observe somebody/something doing something" }, { "text": "She observed that all the chairs were already occupied.", "contextForm": "observe that…" }, { "text": "He was observed to follow her closely.", "contextForm": "be observed to do something" }, { "text": "It is the parents who actually observe these behavioural problems in their children." }, { "text": "She correctly observed that there was very little difference between the two parties on domestic policies." }, { "text": "This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch." } ], "collocations": { "adverb": ["carefully", "closely", "precisely"], "verb + observe": ["be able to", "be possible to", "be difficult to"], "preposition": ["among", "for", "from"], "phrases": [ "be commonly observed", "be frequently observed", "be widely observed" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to watch somebody/something carefully, especially to learn more about them", "sensetop": "observe somebody/somethingobserve somebody/something for somethingobserve how, what, etc…", "labels": "(formal)", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "He observes keenly, but says little." }, { "text": "I felt he was observing everything I did.", "contextForm": "observe somebody/something" }, { "text": "The patients were observed over a period of several months." }, { "text": "an observed decrease in rainfall in the area" }, { "text": "The program provided an opportunity to observe the effects of treatment." }, { "text": "The cells were observed under a microscope." }, { "text": "The patient should be observed for signs of an allergic reaction.", "contextForm": "observe somebody/something for something" }, { "text": "They observed how the parts of the machine fitted together.", "contextForm": "observe how, what, etc…" }, { "text": "You can learn a lot by simply observing." }, { "text": "She was unaware that she was being observed from the window." }, { "text": "It is interesting to observe the reaction of the children to these changes." }, { "text": "She stood there, quietly observing the domestic scene." } ], "synonyms": "monitor", "collocations": { "adverb": ["carefully", "closely", "precisely"], "verb + observe": ["be able to", "be possible to", "be difficult to"], "preposition": ["among", "for", "from"], "phrases": [ "be commonly observed", "be frequently observed", "be widely observed" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "to make a remark", "sensetop": "observe that…+ speech", "labels": "(formal)", "examples": [ { "text": "She observed that it was getting late." }, { "text": "‘It's easy to say that,’ she observed to Michael, ‘but can you prove it?’" }, { "text": "‘You took your time, ’ he observed coolly." }, { "text": "The only certainties in this world, as Benjamin Franklin famously observed, are death and taxes." }, { "text": "The Area Manager observed that takings were down and decided to pay a visit." } ], "synonyms": "comment", "collocations": { "adverb": ["astutely", "correctly", "keenly"], "preposition": ["to"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "to obey rules, laws, etc.", "sensetop": "observe something", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "Will the rebels observe the ceasefire?" }, { "text": "The crowd **observed a minute's silence** *(= were silent for one minute)* in memory of those who had died." }, { "text": "Failure to observe club rules may result in expulsion." }, { "text": "This procedure must be correctly observed." } ], "topics": ["Permission and obligation"], "collocations": { "adverb": ["correctly", "faithfully", "scrupulously"], "verb + observe": ["fail to"], "phrases": ["failure to observe something"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "to celebrate festivals, birthdays, etc.", "sensetop": "observe something", "labels": "(formal)", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [ { "text": "Religious festivals were always observed." } ], "topics": ["Religion and festivals"] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːv/", "audio": "ob/observe/observe__gb_2.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːvz/", "audio": "ob/observe/observes__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːvd/", "audio": "ob/observe/observed__gb_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːvɪŋ/", "audio": "ob/observe/observing__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrv/", "audio": "ob/observe/observe__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrvz/", "audio": "ob/observe/observes__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrvd/", "audio": "ob/observe/observed__us_1.mp3" }, { "pronunciation": "/əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/", "audio": "ob/observe/observing__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "late Middle English (in sense (5)): from Old French observer, from Latin observare ‘to watch’, from ob- ‘towards’ + servare ‘attend to, look at’." }