What does "look" mean?
Look: To direct the attention (to something); to consider; to examine; as, to look at an action.
Additional senses
- 2.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.
- 3.To have a particular direction or situation; to face; to front. The inner gate that looketh to north. Ezek. viii.
- 4.The east gate . . . which looketh eastward. Ezek. xi.
- 5.5. 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.
- 8.(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 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.
- 9.(Rev. Ver.). -- 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. (a) To regard; to esteem. Her friends would look on her the worse. Prior. (b) To consider; to view; to conceive of; to think of. I looked on Virgil as a succinct, majestic writer. Dryden. (c) 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. (a) To see through. (b) To search; to examine with the eyes. -- To look to or unto. (a) To watch; to take care of. "Look well to thy herds." Prov. xxvii.
- 10.(b) 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.
- 11.-- 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.
- 12.To look at; to turn the eyes toward.
- 13.To seek; to search for. [Obs.] Looking my love, I go from place to place. Spenser.
- 14.To expect. [Obs.] Shak.
- 15.To influence, overawe, or subdue by looks or presence as, to look down opposition. A spirit fit to start into an empire, And look the world to law. Dryden.
- 16.To express or manifest by a look. Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again. Byron. To look daggers. See under Dagger. -- To look in the face, to face or meet with boldness or confidence; hence, sometimes, to meet for combat. -- To look out, to seek for; as, prudent persons look out associates good reputation.
- 17.The act of looking; a glance; a sight; a view; -- often in certain phrases; as, to have, get, take, throw, or cast, a look. Threw many a northward look to see his father Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain. Shak.
- 18.Expression of the eyes and face; manner; as, a proud or defiant look. "Gentle looks." Shak. Up ! up! my friends, and clear your looks. Wordsworth.
- 19.Hence; Appearance; aspect; as, the house has a gloomy look; the affair has a bad look. Pain, disgrace, and poverty have frighted looks. Locke. There was something that reminded me of Dante's Hell in the look of this. Carlyle.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00