English
eavesdrop
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈiːvzˌdɹɒp/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈivzˌdɹɑp/
Verb

eavesdrop (eavesdrops, present participle eavesdropping; past and past participle eavesdropped)

  1. (ambitransitive) To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in.
    I hope nobody was eavesdropping on our conversation last night, since it got so personal.
  2. (zoology) To listen for another organism's calls, so as to exploit them.
    • 1993, David W. Nagorsen, ‎Robert Mark Brigham, ‎Royal British Columbia Museum, Bats of British Columbia (page 109)
      […] Eastern Red Bat will eavesdrop on the sonar calls of other red bats to locate potential insect prey.
Synonyms
  • (hear conversation one is not intended to hear) overhear
Translations Noun

eavesdrop (plural eavesdrops)

  1. The dripping of rain from the eaves of a house
  2. The space around a house on which such water drips
  3. A concealed aperture through which an occupant of a building can surreptitiously listen to people talking at an entrance to the building
  4. The act of intentionally hearing a conversation not intended to be heard
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations

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