look

1 /lUk/ verb

1 SEE (I) to turn your eyes towards something, so that you can see it: Sorry, I didn't see - I wasn't looking. | If you look carefully you can see that the painting represents a naked man.

(+ at): "It's time we left," Ian said, looking at his watch. | Look at me when I'm talking to you! (+ away/over/down etc): Dad looked up from his paper and smiled. | I saw you, I was looking through the window. -see gaze 1

2 SEARCH (I) to try and find something using your eyes: We looked everywhere but we couldn't find it. | look in/under/between etc: Try looking under the bed.

3 SEEM (linking verb) to seem to be something, especially by having a particular appearance: How do I look in this dress? | look like: The intruder was holding what looked like a shotgun. | look as if: You look as if you haven't slept all night. | it looks as if (=seems likely): The cause of death seems clear - it looks as if he was poisoned. | look good/impressive etc: The plan looks good at the moment, but none of the details have been thought of. | look happy/pale/tired etc: I thought Reg was looking very tired.

4 be looking to do sth informal to be planning or expecting to do something: We're looking to buy a new car early next year.

5 look daggers at informal to look at someone with a very angry expression on your face

6 look sb up and down to look at someone examining them carefully from their head to their feet, as if you are judging their appearance

7 look sb in the eye/face to look directly at someone when you are speaking to them, especially to show that you are not afraid of them or that you are telling the truth: Owen was burning with humiliation. He dared not look his father in the eye.

8 look down your nose at informal to behave as if you think that someone or something is not good enough for you: He looks down his nose at anyone or anything foreign.

9 FACE A DIRECTION if a building looks in a particular direction, it faces that direction: The cabin looks east, so we get the sun first thing in the morning..

10 look before you leap used to say that it is wise to think about possible dangers or difficulties before doing something

11 look

a) used to tell someone to look at something that you think is interesting, surprising etc: Look! There's a fox!

b) used to get someone's attention so that you can tell them something: Look. Why don't you think about it and give me your answer tomorrow? | Look, I've had enough of this. I'm going home.

12 it looks like/it looks as if used to say that something seems to be likely or true: There are no buses so it looks like we'll be walking home.

13 look out! used to warn someone that they are in danger: Look out! There's a car coming.

14 Look at that! used to tell someone to look at something that you think is interesting, bad etc: Look at that! What a horrible mess!

15 Look who's here! used when someone arrives unexpectedly: Well, look who's here! It's Jill and Paul!

16 don't look now used when you see someone you want to avoid: Oh no! Don't look now but here comes Tony.

17 look what you're doing/look where you're going etc used to tell someone to be careful: Look where you're putting your feet, there's mud all over the carpet.

18 not be looking yourself to appear tired, unhappy, ill etc, when you are not usually: She should take a break - she hasn't been looking herself lately.

19 look what you've done! used to angrily tell someone to look at the result of a mistake they have made or something bad they have done: Look what you've done - my jacket's ruined!

20 look here old-fashioned used to get someone's attention in order to tell them something, especially when you are annoyed with them: Look here, you can't say things like that to me!

21 (I'm) just looking used when you are in a shop, to say that you are only looking at things, but do not intend to buy anything now: "Can I help you?" "No, thank you. I'm just looking."

look after sb/sth phrasal verb (T) especially BrE

1 to take care of someone by helping them, giving them what they need, or keeping them safe: Don't worry, I'll look after the kids tomorrow. | Susan looked after us very well, she's an excellent cook. | be well looked after: You could tell just by looking at the horse that it had been well looked after.

2 to be responsible for dealing with something: I'm leaving you here to look after the business until I get back.

3 look after yourself spoken especially BrE used when you are saying goodbye to someone in a friendly way

4 be able to look after yourself to not need anyone else to take care of you: Don't worry about Maisie - she can look after herself.

look ahead phrasal verb (I) to plan future situations, events etc, or to think about the future: Looking ahead, we must expect radical changes to be made in our system of government. look around/round BrE phrasal verb

1 (I) to search

(+ for): Jason's going to start looking around for a new job.

2 (I, T) to look at what is in a place such as a building, shop, town etc, especially when you are walking: Do we have to pay to look around the castle? | Let's look round the shops.

look at sb/sth phrasal verb (T)

1 to turn your eyes towards something, so that you can see it: The twins looked at each other and smiled.

2 to read something quickly, but not thoroughly, in order to form an opinion of it: I really can't comment on the report - you see, I've not had time to look at it yet.

3 if someone with a special skill, such as a doctor, looks at something that is damaged or broken, they examine it and try to find out what is wrong with it: You should get the doctor to look at that cut. | Can you look at my car? There's a strange noise coming from the front wheel.

4 to study and consider something, especially in order to decide what to do: We need to look very carefully at ways of improving our efficiency.

5 look at ...! spoken used when you are talking about something as an example of a situation: Look at Mrs Godfrey, smoking killed her!

6 to think about something in a particular way: I'd like to be friends again, but Richard doesn't look at it that way.

7 not much to look at informal if someone is not much to look at, they are not attractive

look back phrasal verb (I)

1 to think about something that happened in the past

(+ on/to): When I look back on those days I realize I was desperately unhappy. | looking back on it informal: Looking back on it, I still can't figure out what went wrong.

2 never look back to become more and more successful, especially after a particular event: After winning the scholarship he never looked back.

look down on sb/sth phrasal verb (T) to think that you are better than someone else, for example because you are more successful, or of a higher social class than they are: Mr Garcia looks down on anyone who hasn't had a college education. look for sb/sth phrasal verb (T)

1 to try to find something that you have lost, or someone who is not where they should be: I'm looking for Steve - have you seen him? | Detectives are still looking for the prisoner who escaped three days ago.

2 be looking for to be trying to find a particular kind of thing or person that you need or want: I'm sorry, we're really looking for someone with no family commitments. | be what/who you are looking for: Salubrious! That's just the word I was looking for.

3 be looking for trouble informal to be behaving in a way that makes it likely that problems will happen: You're looking for trouble if you say things like that to me!

look forward to phrasal verb (T) to be excited and pleased about something that is going to happen: I'm really looking forward to our vacation. | look forward to doing sth: My mother says she's looking forward to meeting you. -see wait 1 look in phrasal verb (I) informal to make a short visit to someone, while you are going somewhere else, especially if they are ill or need help (+ on): I promised to look in on Dad and see if he's feeling any better. look into sth phrasal verb (T) to try to find out the truth about a problem, crime etc in order to solve it: Police are looking into the disappearance of two children. look on phrasal verb

1 (I) to watch something happening, without being involved in it or trying to stop it: Only one man tried to help us, the rest just looked on in silence.

2 also look upon (transitive look on someone/something) to consider something in a particular way, or as a particular thing

(+ as): I look on him as a good friend. (+ with): I look upon all my nephews and nieces with equal affection. look sth out phrasal verb (T) to search for and find a particular thing amongst your possessions: I'll look out some of my old books for you to read. look out for sth phrasal verb (T)

1 (T) to pay attention to what is happening around you, so that you will notice a particular person or thing if you see them

(+ for): Look out for your Aunt while you're at the station. | He's looking out for a nice apartment downtown.

2 look out for yourself/for number one to think only about what will bring you an advantage, and not think about other people

look sth/sb over phrasal verb (T) to examine something quickly, without paying much attention to detail: Do you have a few minutes to look these samples over? -see also: overlook look round phrasal verb (I, T) especially BrE to look around look through sb/sth phrasal verb (T)

1 to look for something among a pile of papers, in a drawer, in someone's pockets etc: I've looked through all my papers but I still can't find the contract.

2 to not notice or pretend not to notice someone you know, even though you see them: look straight/right through sb: I saw Fiona in the street yesterday and she looked straight through me.

look to sb/sth phrasal verb (T)

1 to depend on someone to provide help, advice etc

(+ for): We look to you for support. | look to sb to do sth: They're looking to the new manager to make the company profitable.

2 to pay attention to something, especially in order to improve it: We must look to ways of encouraging new ideas.

look up phrasal verb

1 (I) if a situation is looking up, it is improving: things are looking up: Now the summer's here things are looking up!

2 (transitive look something up) if you look up information in a book, on a computer etc, you try to find a particular bit of information there: Look up the word in the dictionary. | I'll just look up the train times.

3 (transitive look someone up) to visit someone you know, especially when you are in the place where they live for a different reason: Don't forget to look me up when you come to Atlanta.

look up to sb phrasal verb (T) to admire or respect someone: I've always looked up to Bill for his courage and determination. 2 noun

1 LOOKING AT STH (countable usually singular) an act of looking at something: have/take a look at: Let me have a look at that - I think it's mine. | have a good/close look (=look carefully): If you have a good look you can just see the lighthouse. | take one look: I took one look at the coat and then decided it wasn't worth -50.

-see glance 2 | have/take a look around also have/take a look round BrE (=look at all the things in a particular place): I have a special interest in old houses. Do you mind if I take a look around?

2 EXPRESSION (C) an expression that you make with your eyes or face, especially to show someone that you are angry, or that you do not like them: give sb a look: Mike gave him such a severe look he didn't dare argue. | dirty look (=unfriendly look): Why has Jake been giving me dirty looks all morning?

3 APPEARANCE (countable usually singular) the appearance of something or someone: The whole area has a very seedy look to it. | Mr Flynn had a tired, ill look in his eyes. | by the look(s) of it/him (=it seems that): The doctor's back from holiday by the looks of it. | not like the look of (=think that something bad has happened or will happen because of something's appearance): We should turn back now, it's getting dark and I don't like the look of those rain clouds.

4 SB'S BEAUTY looks (plural) someone's physical attractiveness: Fiona's got everything - looks, money and youth. | lose your looks (=become less attractive): When she lost her looks she found it difficult to get an acting part. | good looks (=attractive appearance): You get your good looks from your mother.

5 FASHION (singular) a fashionable style in clothes, hair, furniture etc: The hippy look is back again.