sight

1 /saIt/ noun

1 ABILITY TO SEE (U) the physical ability to see: Anne's sight is very good for someone of her age. | He has no sight in his right eye, but his left eye is fine. | lose your sight (=become blind): She had lost her sight in a riding accident.

2 ACT OF SEEING (singular, uncountable) the act of seeing something: The crowd was waiting for a sight of the Queen. | at the sight of: I always faint at the sight of blood. | catch sight of (=suddenly see or notice something): Sheila caught sight of her own face in one of the shop windows. | be hidden from sight: The house is hidden from sight behind trees. | on sight (=as soon as you see someone): soldiers trained to shoot on sight | Jo disliked him on sight. | at first sight (=the first time you see someone): We fell in love with the cottage at first sight.

3 THING YOU SEE (C)

a) something you can see, especially something unusual, beautiful etc: Tourists are a familiar sight in this part of the city. | the rare sight of a fox | all the sounds and sights of the forest | a sorry sight often humorous (=something you see that makes you feel sad or sympathetic): Fiona was a sorry sight in her wet clothes.

b) the sights (plural) famous or interesting places that tourists visit: In the afternoon, you'll have a chance to relax or to go and see the sights.

—see also: sightseeing

4 in/within sight

a) inside the area that you can see: When we got to the beach, there wasn't a soul in sight. | If you don't lock up the food, they'll eat everything in sight.

b) likely to happen soon: Six months from the start of the strike, there is still no end in sight. | Peace is now in sight.

5 out of sight

a) outside the area that you can see: Karen waved until the car was out of sight.

b) old-fashioned slang extremely good: The skiing there is out of sight!

6 be within sight of

a) to be in the area where you can see something: We camped within sight of the lake.

b) to be in a position where you will soon be able to get something or achieve something: Dan was now within sight of the championship.

7 lose sight of

a) to forget to think about or deal with something important: It's easy to lose sight of the real issue. | Never lose sight of the fact that you have a lot of talent.

b) to stop being able to see something or someone: I lost sight of him in the crowd.

8 come into sight/disappear from sight etc to appear or disappear: Soon the train came into sight.

9 not let sb out of your sight to make sure that someone stays near you: Since the accident, Donna hasn't let the children out of her sight.

10 be sick of/hate/can't stand the sight of to dislike someone or something very much: Alan and Sam can't stand the sight of each other.

11 a sight for sore eyes spoken

a) someone or something that you feel very happy to see

b) BrE someone or something that is very unattractive or very funny to look at

12 set your sights on to decide that you want something and will make a determined effort to achieve it: I was still young then, and my sights were set on a acting career.

13 come in sight of to arrive at a position from which you can see a particular place, building etc: At last they came in sight of the city.

14 at first sight when you first start considering something: The results of the tests were, at first sight, surprising.

15 a sight more/a sight better etc spoken a lot more etc: You'd earn a damn sight more if you got a proper qualification.

16 be a sight/look a sight to look very funny or stupid, or very untidy or unpleasant: We'd had an all-night party, and the place looked a bit of a sight.

17 GUN (countable often plural) the part of a gun or other weapon that guides your eye when you are aiming at something

18 out of sight, out of mind used to say that you will soon forget someone if you do not see them for a while: I pestered him continuously: I wasn't going to allow myself to become a case of out of sight, out of mind.

—see also: know sb by sight know 1 (16) 2 verb (T) to see something from a long distance away, or see something you have been looking for: The sailors gave a shout of joy when they sighted land. | Several rare birds have been sighted in the area.