Definition: observe
observe
v 1: discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of;
"She detected high levels of lead in her drinking
water"; "We found traces of lead in the paint" [syn: detect,
find, discover, notice]
2: make mention of; "She observed that his presentation took up
too much time"; "They noted that it was a fine day to go
sailing" [syn: note, mention, remark]
3: observe with care or pay close attention to; "Take note of
this chemical reaction" [syn: note, take note]
4: watch attentively; "Please observe the reaction of these two
chemicals"
5: show respect towards; "honor your parents!" [syn: respect,
honor, honour, abide by] [ant: disrespect]
6: celebrate, as of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments";
"celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur" [syn: celebrate,
keep]
7: follow with the eyes or the mind; "Keep an eye on the baby,
please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed
the men with the binoculars" [syn: watch, follow, watch
over, keep an eye on]
8: observe correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with
the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all
my employees" [syn: keep, maintain]
9: conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments";
"she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original
conditions of the contract" [syn: keep]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Observe \Ob*serve"\, v. i.
1. To take notice; to give attention to what one sees or
hears; to attend.
2. To make a remark; to comment; -- generally with on or
upon.
Observe \Ob*serve"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Observed; p. pr. & vb. n. Observing.] [L. observare, observatum; ob (see Ob-) + servare to save, preserve, keep, heed, observe: cf.F. observer. See Serve.] 1. To take notice of by appropriate conduct; to conform one's action or practice to; to keep; to heed; to obey; to comply with; as, to observe rules or commands; to observe civility. Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. --Ex. xii. 17. He wolde no such cursedness observe. --Chaucer. Must I budge? Must I observe you? --Shak. With solemn purpose to observe Immutably his sovereign will. --Milton. 2. To be on the watch respecting; to pay attention to; to notice with care; to see; to perceive; to discover; as, to observe an eclipse; to observe the color or fashion of a dress; to observe the movements of an army. 3. To express as what has been noticed; to utter as a remark; to say in a casual or incidental way; to remark.
