view

1 /vju:/ noun

1 OPINION (C) what you think or believe about something

(+ on/about): We'd like to find out young people's views on religion. | in my/your etc view (=I, you etc think): In my view, what this country needs is a change of government. | point of view (=opinion): No one seemed to want to listen to my point of view. | express the view that (=say you think that): The chairman expressed the view that it would be better not to increase investments. | take the view that (=have the opinion that): The judge took the view that a prison sentence would not be appropriate in this case.

2 WAY OF CONSIDERING (countable usually singular) a way of considering or understanding something

(+ of): Has your view of the role of women changed since you got married? | James always did have a rather romantic view of life. | an inside view (=based on actual experience in an organization, group etc): Healey's autobiography gives the reader an inside view of the Labour party. | clear view (=a definite and specific idea about something): Before doing anything you need to have a clear view of the kind of book you want to write. | take a dim/poor view of (=disapprove): She takes a pretty dim view of her son's recent behaviour.

3 SIGHT (C, U) what you are able to see or the possibility of seeing it: have a good/bad/wonderful etc view (of) (=be able to see a lot, very little etc): We had a really good view of the whole stage from where we were sitting. | be in view (=can be seen from where you are): She waited until the whole island was in view and then took a photograph. | come into view (=begin to be seen): As we rounded the bend in the river the castle came into view. | in full view of (=happening where people can see it clearly): Francine screamed and slapped her husband in full view of all the guests. | block sb's view (=stop someone from seeing something): There was a tall guy sitting in front of me, blocking my view completely. | bird's eye view (=a view seen from above): We've got a bird's eye view of the football stadium from our office window.

4 SCENERY (C) the whole area, especially a beautiful place, that you can see from somewhere: a spectacular view across the valley | spoil the view (=make a view look less beautiful): A huge nuclear reactor now spoils the view of the coastline.

5 PICTURE (C) a photograph or picture showing a beautiful or interesting place: The book contains over fifty scenic views of Cambridge.

6 be on view if paintings, photographs etc are on view, they are in a public place where people can go to look at them: The Toulouse Lautrec posters are currently on view at the Hayward gallery.

7 in view of used to introduce the reason for your decision or action: In view of Sutton's recent conduct the club has decided to suspend him until further notice..

8 with a view to doing sth because you are planning to do something in the future: We bought the cottage with a view to moving there when we retired.

9 have sth in view to have something in your mind as an aim: He wants to find work, but he has nothing particular in view.

10 take the long view (of) to think about the effect that something will have in the future rather than what happens now

2 verb

1 (T) formal to look at something, especially because you are interested: view sth from: The buildings are much more impressive when viewed from the other side of the river. | view a house/apartment/property (=go to see the inside of a house etc which you are interested in buying) | view an exhibition/a garden etc (=walk around it and look at it): Thousands of tourists came to view the gardens every year.

2 (transitive always + adv/prep) to regard something in a particular way: Viewed from a financial standpoint, the show was a failure. | view sth as: Conflict is viewed as an inevitable part of the child-parent relationship. | view sth with caution/enthusiasm/horror etc: Offers of rides from strangers should always be viewed with suspicion.

3 (I, T) formal to watch a television programme, film etc: an opportunity to view the film before it goes on general release