Word for the look of something

The way Reverse Dictionary works is pretty simple. It simply looks through tonnes of dictionary definitions and grabs the ones that most closely match your search query. For example, if you type something like «longing for a time in the past», then the engine will return «nostalgia». The engine has indexed several million definitions so far, and at this stage it’s starting to give consistently good results (though it may return weird results sometimes). It acts a lot like a thesaurus except that it allows you to search with a definition, rather than a single word. So in a sense, this tool is a «search engine for words», or a sentence to word converter.

I made this tool after working on Related Words which is a very similar tool, except it uses a bunch of algorithms and multiple databases to find similar words to a search query. That project is closer to a thesaurus in the sense that it returns synonyms for a word (or short phrase) query, but it also returns many broadly related words that aren’t included in thesauri. So this project, Reverse Dictionary, is meant to go hand-in-hand with Related Words to act as a word-finding and brainstorming toolset. For those interested, I also developed Describing Words which helps you find adjectives and interesting descriptors for things (e.g. waves, sunsets, trees, etc.).

In case you didn’t notice, you can click on words in the search results and you’ll be presented with the definition of that word (if available). The definitions are sourced from the famous and open-source WordNet database, so a huge thanks to the many contributors for creating such an awesome free resource.

Special thanks to the contributors of the open-source code that was used in this project: Elastic Search, @HubSpot, WordNet, and @mongodb.

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Qualifiers such as «superficially» and «on the surface» all carry an implication of it actually not being so underneath.

If you want to avoid any such implied meaning, you would need to use additional qualifiers:

My relationship with my mother is at least superficially okay.
My relationship with my mother at least looks okay on the surface.

Using at least reduces the implication that it’s necessarily the opposite in reality. (Because there could be more than just appearance.) However, the problem with both of those phrases is that your own doubt about the situation («but I don’t know about the reality») isn’t implied.

Also, using such additional qualifiers doesn’t meet your criterion of keeping the sentence short.

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If you are really trying to express both outward appearance and some of your own doubt, I would suggest something different:

My relationship with my mother seems okay.

The word seems does double duty for both objective appearance and internal belief, and emphasizing it (either in text or verbally) acts to highlight your own uncertainty about the situation.

LOOK AFTER

1. To take care of someone.
   I looked after my little sister when my parents went out.
   Take care! Look after yourself!
2. To think of yourself.
   I don’t think he cares about other people. He’s just looking after his own interests.

LOOK AHEAD

1. To think about something that will happen in the future.
   I’m not thinking about this term now. I’m looking ahead to next year when I’ll be at university.

LOOK AROUND/LOOK ROUND (Brit. Eng)

1. To turn your head.
   I was trying to walk quietly past Gemma, but she looked around and saw me.
   The dog looked round and saw me. Then it started barking!
2. To visit something to see what is there.
   I’m excited because I’m going to look around a new house tomorrow. If I like it, I’ll buy it!
   We’re looking around for a new house in this area.
   Shop assistant: Can I help you?
   Customer: No, I’m just looking around.

LOOK AT

1. To read something quickly.
   Look at chapter one again and tell me why the man was wearing a blue hat.
2. To face or accept something.
   John knows he should not have stolen the car. He is looking at a long jail sentence.
3. To think carefully about something or to consider it.
   We’re looking at the possibility of employing more teachers next year.

LOOK AWAY

1. To stop looking at someone deliberately.
   I saw Linda in the shop but she looked away. I think she is still annoyed with me.

LOOK BACK

1. To look behind you.
   If you look back you can see the city in the distance. 
2. To think about the past.
   I look back on my childhood as a happy time in my life.Looking back to the nineteenth century, we can see that the standard of living was low.
3. To look again at something you read or wrote earlier.
   OK everyone, please look back through your notes.
   You need to look back at the exercises you did last week. 

 

LOOK DOWN ON

1. To behave as if you are more important than another person.
   David always looks down on Peter because he lives in a bigger house than him.
   I think Sally always looks down on me – just because she became a lawyer, and I didn’t. 

LOOK FOR

1. To search for something.
   ‘Can I help you? Are you looking for something?’ ‘Yes, I think I lost my ring near here.’
   ‘Are you happy at work?’ ‘No, I’m looking for a new job.’
2. To hope for something.
   We will be looking for an improvement in your sales figures this year.

Two of the phrasal verbs in this list are opposites. If you LOOK UP TO someone you admire them. This could be someone you know, like an older brother, or a famous person, for example: ‘I’ve always looked up to my dad. He is very intelligent.’ The phrasal verb to LOOK DOWN ON someone suggests that you think you are more important than the other person. We often say this about a person who believes they are superior to someone else, for example: ‘Michael is a bit arrogant. He always seems to look down on people who earn less money than him’. 

LOOK FORWARD TO

1. To be happy about an event in the future.
   I’m really looking forward to the party tomorrow night.
   How do you feel about your job interview? Well, I’m not really looking forward to it. 

LOOK IN ON

1. To visit someone briefly to check they are ok.
   Sarah, I’m a bit worried about grandma. I haven’t seen her for four days.
   Don’t worry. I’ll look in on her when I drive to the shops.

LOOK INTO

1. To investigate something.
   Do you know who stole your car? No, the police are looking into it. 

LOOK ON

1. To see what is happening but not do anything to help.
   When the old man fell over, two women ran over to help him, but everyone else just looked on.

LOOK ON AS

1. To have an opinion about another person.
   I’ve always looked on Susan as a really good friend.

LOOK OUT

1. To be careful.
   Look out! There is a car coming.
   You should look out when you cross the road.
2. To search for something from your own possessions.
   Have you got anything I can give to the charity shop?
   Yes, I will look out some clothes for you.
   Have you found them yet?
   No I am still looking them out. 

A few of the phrasal verbs in this list can be made into nouns. An ONLOOKER is a person who is observing a situation, but not involved in it. A LOOKOUT is someone who is watching for danger. Some criminals may use a ‘lookout’ to let them know if the police are coming. You can also tell someone that you will give their work a LOOKOVER, meaning that you will check it for them. You can also visit your friend in their new house for a ‘LOOK AROUND’.

LOOK OUT FOR

1. To try to find something or someone.
   You need to look out for a sharp turning on your left.
   I’ll look out for you near the ticket office.
2. To make sure someone is cared for.
   They had a hard time growing up, but she always looked out for her little sister.

LOOK OVER

1. To look in the direction of the person speaking.
   Pete knows I am here. He just looked over at me.
2. To check something.
   Can you check my essay for me? Yes I’ll look over it later.
   How was it? I am still looking it over. 

LOOK ROUND

Look round is used in exactly the same way as ‘look around’.

To look at something to see what is there.
Do you want to look round your new school?
 

LOOK THROUGH

1. To deliberately ignore someone.
   I waved to Daisy, but she just looked through me. 
2. To read or check something.
   Can you look through your notes and decide which solution is best?
3. To search or check something.
   The security staff looked through her bag, but they didn’t find anything.

LOOK TO

1. To consider something. (formal)
   We are looking to expand the business in the next two years.
   The company is looking to increase its sales volume next year.
2. To rely on another person.
   We’ve always looked to our father for advice.
   I’ve always looked to John to sort out the finances.

LOOK UP

1. To raise your eyes.
   Sarah looked up when she heard the door open.
2. To check a fact or piece of information.
   You need to look up that word in the dictionary if you don’t know it.
   Can you look up how many books I have borrowed, please?
   Where is his phone number? It’s ok, I’m just looking it up.
3. To describe a situation that is improving.
   Peter has got himself a new job and a nice house. Things are looking up for him.
   The weather looks much nicer next week. Things are looking up!
4. To find someone’s address and visit them.
   You should look me up when you next come to London.
   Yes, I will!
   I looked Sue up when I went to Edinburgh. It was really nice to see her.

LOOK UP TO

1. To admire someone.
   He really looks up to his older brother. Well, he has been very successful.
   Which footballer do you most look up to? 

Exercises: phrasal verbs with ‘look’

Judith P.
— ESL Tutor.

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WAYS OF LOOKING

• glance  (at) = to take a brief look (intentionally)

Stella glanced shyly at the young man out of the corners of her eyes.

• glimpse = to take a brief look (unintentionally); a «glimpse» can also be intentional, for example, when someone is trying very hard to see something and then finally catches a glimpse of it.

     * to catch a glimpse of something means to involuntarily see something for a short moment. (I caught a glimpse of a pigeon flying across my window.)

• stare = to look at someone or something for a long time, for whatever reason.

Verb ‘stare’ is usually used with the preposition at or with:

The ticket-collector stared at him a cold hostile stare.

 For a while she stared with astonishment at what used to be her favorite purse.

• gaze = to gaze means to look at something contemplatively. Sometimes people get lost while gazing, other time they are just enjoying the beauty of the view. We also use the noun gaze like look.

I was looking around the room until finally my gaze rested on the old wooden statue in the corner.

• peek = to take a brief look, secretly
• peep (at, into, through) = to take a long look, secretly, trying to remain undetected

Once or twice Mary peeped into the book her brother was reading.

I saw a man peeping through a hole in the fence.

• peer = to search for something by making an observation. Also, «to peer» is usually followed by a preposition «to peer into something,» «to peer over something.»
• glare  = means to look at something angrily or with a fire in your eyes.

Choose the correct variant:

1.  The white man ….. coldly at Lanny, looking him up and down.  

        saw

        looked

        glanced

        stared

        peeped

  2.  Four eyes ….. more than two.  

        see

        look

        glance

        stare

        peep

  3.  Joe said nothing but quickly ….. at his wife.  

        saw

        looked up

        glanced

        stared

        peeped

  4.  The girl looked first at the stranger then at his dog. She didn’t like what she ….. .  

        saw

        looked

        glanced

        stared

        peeped

  5.  I have arranged your interview with Andrew; he will ….. you on Monday.  

        see

        look

        glance

        stare

        peep

  6.  The man admitted that he had never ….. the document before.  

        seen

        looked

        glanced

        stared

        peeped

  7.  Did you ….. anybody approaching the house?  

        see

        look

        glance

        stare

        peep

  8.  I ….. at the steeple; which towered over the town with its white walls and a tiled roof.  

        saw

        looked up

        glanced

        stared

        peeped

  9.  Just ….. the trouble you have caused!  

        see

        look at

        glance at

        stare at

        peep through

  10.  The moon was ….. through heavy clouds in the darkening sky.  

        seeing

        looking

        glancing

        staring

        peeping

  11.  It was interesting ….. him, taking a look, making big strokes with his brush on the paper.  

        to see

        to look

        to glance

        to stare

        to peep

 12.  On his way out Herbert ….. that his clerks knew everything and he answered their involuntary glances with a sardonic look.  

        saw

        looked

        glanced

        stared

        peeped

  13.  He was sitting with his arms crossed, ….. straight in front of him.  

        seeing

        looking

        glancing

        staring

        peeping

  14.  We found the boys sitting on the bank, ….. fixedly at their fishing rods.  

        seeing

        looking

        glancing

        staring

        peeping

  15.  The visitor ….. at all the pictures but without any particular interest.  

        saw

        looked

        glanced

        stared

        peeped

Complete the sentences with the most suitable verb in the correct form:

1. The longer I ______ at my computer screen, the harder it became to find inspiration.    (stared)

1. I ______ a film at the cinema the other day, it was awesome!  

2. I was ______ TV all night last night.  

3. It’s very rude to ______ at people.  

4. I ______ at my notes quickly as took a deep breath, and then I began to speak to the audience.  

5. I caught a quick ______ of a strange animal in between the trees, but I wasn’t sure what it was.  

6.  We love to pass the time standing on our balcony and ______ across the beautiful landscape.  

7. He heard a strange noise coming from the room so he positioned himself to ______ through the keyhole.  

8. The old professor ______ intently over the old book at the student through his thick-rimmed spectacles.  

9. I ______ into the distance through the thick fog, trying absent-mindedly to see something.  

10. My dog was ______ at me angrily, clearly he thought it was about time for dinner.  

11. She ______ through the letter-box and saw an envelope.

Answers:

1. saw

2. watching

3. stare

4. glanced

5. glimpse

6. gazing

7. peep

8. peered

9. gazed

10. glaring

11. squinted

* to spot something means to see something intentionally which is difficult to see. For example: «I spotted my friend; he was deep within the crowd.»

* to peep at someone or to take a peep at something means to secretly take a look at something/someone.

* to peek means to look at something while trying to behind something to hide.

* to peer means to look discerningly at someone or something. It is a very specific verb and is difficult to learn without context. For example: «The old sea captain peered into the dense fog.»

* to leer means to look at someone in a creepy way, sometimes the connotations are sexual and usually negative.

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look: give attention to what one is seeing; turn the eyes and see in a certain direction.

Look at that cute baby!

see: use the power of sight.

See! Here she comes!

watch: look at some activity or event; keep one’s eyes fixed on something.

The boys watched television all the afternoon.

gaze: look at something for a long time, in surprise or admiration.

She gazed at him in disbelief when he told her the news.

stare: look at something for a long time with the eyes wide open.

 She was staring into space.

gawk = gawp: stare impolitely.

Many people gathered to gawp at the crashed car.

gape: look at something with one’s mouth open.

She gaped at him in surprise.

glance: have a quick look at something.

She glanced at her watch.

scan: look quickly at something without careful reading.

He scanned the newspaper over breakfast.

glare: stare angrily or fiercely.

She didn’t answered, but just glared silently at me.

peer: look very carefully, as if not able to see well.

He peered at me over his spectacles.

peep: look quickly and cautiously.

He was caught peeping through the keyhole.

observe: watch carefully.

The police observed the man entering the bank.

glimpse: have a passing view of something or someone. Usually used in the expression to catch a glimpse of.

He could catch a glimpse of the president among the crowd.

spot: recognize someone suddenly among many others.

He was spotted by the police boarding a plane for Berlin.

behold: old use of the verb to see.

Behold the king!

view: (technical) look thoroughly; regard, consider.

That film hasn’t been viewed by the censor yet.

sight: see for the first time.

The men in the ship finally sighted land.

leer: look in an unpleasant way, suggesting ill will or lust.

The man leered at the young girl.

blink: shut and open the eyes quickly.

How long can you stare without blinking?

wink: close one eye briefly, as a signal to somebody.

He winked at me to show that he was just joking.

frown: look in a worried or angry way, moving down the eyebrows together.

He read the telegram, frowning at its contents.

scowl: frown angrily.

She was very angry and scowled at him while she talked.

squint: look with eyes half shut or turned sideways, or through a narrow opening.

She squinted through the letter-box and saw an envelope.

peek: look quickly and secretively.

She found her brother peeking at her diary.

ogle: look or stare (at a woman) suggesting sexual interest.

Most women hate being ogled at.

goggle: look with the eyes wide open in surprise or shock. (old-fashioned)

People were goggling at her as if she were from another planet.

eyeball: look directly or closely.

Francis eyeballed a beautiful woman at the party.

take a gander at something: (informal) look at something.

cast an eye on/over something: look at something, examine something.

browse: look through the pages of a book or magazine; look at the goods in a shop without really wanting to buy anything.

Sheila spent all the afternoon browsing the boutiques.

scrutinize: examine thoroughly and carefully.

John scrutinized the painting at the museum.

Глагол look — один из наиболее употребительных в английском языке. Трудности с его пониманием и употреблением связаны в основном с фразовыми глаголами, в состав которых входит look — их значения зачастую далеки от «смотреть». В этой статье мы разберем основные значения глагол look, его отличия от похожих слов see, watch, а также фразовый глагол look или, если быть точнее, фразовые глаголы, в состав которых входит look.

Содержание:

• Значения глагола look, разница между look, see, watch.
• Разница между look, see, watch
• Фразовый глагол look.

У глагола look два основных значения: смотреть и выглядеть.

1. Look в значении «смотреть» используется с различными предлогами.

• Look at — смотреть на что-то:

What are you looking at? — На что ты смотришь?

I am looking at the picture. — Я смотрю на картину.

• Look into или in — смотреть, всматриваться во что-то:

The girl is looking into the sky. — Девушка смотрит в небо.

I’m looking in the mirror. — Я смотрю в зеркало.

• Look out (of something) — выглядывать (откуда-то)

Look out of the window and answer the question. — Выгляни в окно и ответь на вопрос.

• Look away — отворачиваться, отводить взгляд:

Look, don’t look away. — Смотри, не отводи взгляд.

I forced myself to look away and walk out of the room. — Я заставил себя отвернуться и выйти из комнаты.

• Look around — осматриваться, смотреть по сторонам:

Look around and name the thing that you see. — Оглянись и назови вещи, которые видишь.

Обратите внимание, что некоторые сочетания «глагол + предлог» могут составлять фразовый глагол и иметь другое значение. К примеру, сочетание look out может использоваться в буквальном значении или как фразовый глагол.

• В буквальном значении: look out — выглядывать

Let’s look out of the window. — Давай выглянем в окно.

• Как фразовый глагол: look out — опасаться:

Look out! It’s gonna blow! — Берегись! Сейчас взорвется!

Список фразовых глаголов с look приведен ниже.

2. Look в значении «выглядеть» используется без предлогов. 

She looks well. — Она выглядит хорошо.

How does that building look like? — Как выглядит это здание?

Разница между look, see, watch

Глагол look часто путают с похожими глаголами see, watch. Разница между ними примерно такая же, как между словами смотреть, видеть, наблюдать в русском языке.

• See — видеть что-то. Не активно наблюдать, а просто видеть.

I see you. — Я вас вижу.

How many fingers do you see? — Сколько ты видишь пальцев?

• Look — смотреть на что-то. К примеру, смотреть на картину, бабочку, человека.

The dog is looking at the cat. — Собака смотрит на кошку.

Tom is looking at the wallpapers. — Том смотрит на обои.

• Watch — наблюдать за чем-то, следить, смотреть в значении «следить за событиями».

The dog is watching the cat. — Собака наблюдает за кошкой.

Tom is watching the baseball match. — Том смотрит бейсбольный матч.

Фразовый глагол look

Глагол look часто используется в составе фразовых глаголов. Напомню, фразовые глаголы состоят из глагола + предлогнаречие. Фразовые глаголы — это не просто сочетания слов, а самостоятельные смысловые единицы, их следует воспринимать как цельные слова.

• Look for — искать

I’m looking for a job. — Я ищу работу.

What are you looking for? — Что вы ищете?

• Look forward to be looking forward to — ждать с нетерпением

Примечание: после look forward to следует существительное или герундий (заканчивается на -ing). Вариант «look forward» звучит немного официальнее, чем «be looking forward».

I am looking forward to visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. — Жду с нетерпением посещения музея Ван Гога в Амстердаме.

I look forward to your reply. — Жду с нетерпением вашего ответа.

• Look after — присматривать, заботиться о ком-то, чем-то

When my sister is out of town, I look after the cats. — Когда моей сестры нет в городе, я присматриваю за кошками.

Can you look after my bag, please? — Не могли бы вы присмотреть за моей сумкой?

• Look ahead — думать наперед, планировать будущее

I’m trying not to look ahead to what will happen when he leaves. — Я стараюсь не думать наперед о том, что случится, когда он уедет.

The house is big enough for us now, but we’re looking ahead. — Дом сейчас достаточно большой для нас, но мы думаем на будущее.

• Look over — проверять, изучать, просматривать

Look over the contract before you sign it. — Просмотри договор, прежде чем подписывать его.

Can you look over my essay and tell me what you think I need to improve? — Не могли бы вы просмотреть мое эссе и сказать, что по вашему мнению мне нужно улучшить?

• Look up — 1) найти информацию (обычно слово в словаре), 2) найти и навестить кого-нибудь

You should look up new words in your dictionary. — Тебе следует находить (смотреть) новые слова в словаре.

We can look up the restaurant’s address on the internet. — Мы можем найти адреса ресторанов в интернете.

Look me up if you are ever in Meterie. — Навести меня, если будешь когда-нибудь в Метери.

• Look out — опасаться чего-то

Look out! There’s a train coming! — Берегись! Поезд едет!

• Look on — наблюдать со стороны, не вмешиваясь

Five people just looked on as the robbers got away with the money. — Пять человек просто наблюдали, не вмешиваясь, как грабители скрылись с деньгами.

• Look down on —  смотреть свысока

Our boss looks down on us. — Наш босс смотрит на нас свысока.

Many Americans used to look down on Japanese made cars. They don’t now. — Многие американцы смотрели свысока на японские машины. Теперь уже нет.

• Look up to someone — глубоко уважать кого-либо, восхищаться

He has always looked up to his father — Он всегда глубоко уважал своего отца.

I look up to my teacher. — Я восхищаюсь своим учителем.

• Look back — вспоминать, оглядываться в прошлое (обычно с ностальгией)

Примечание: фразовый глагол look back может использоваться с предлогами on, at, over, upon — смысл практически не меняется. Вариант с «upon» звучит несколько формальнее.

When I look back on my time at university, it puts a smile on my face. — Когда я вспоминаю свою учебу в университете, это вызывает у меня улыбку.

It’s easy to make judgments looking back at the past. — Легко судить, глядя в прошлое.

• Look into — изучать, расследовать, проверять, устанавливать факты о чем-то вроде проблемы или преступления

I’ll have to look into that matter. — Мне придется заняться этим вопросом (изучить его).

I wrote a letter of complaint, and the airline have promised to look into the matter. — Я написал жалобу и авиакомпания пообещала расследовать данный вопрос.

• Look to — ожидать, надеяться

He looked to hear from her within a week. — Он надеялся, что она ответит в течение недели.

• Look to someone for something — обращаться к кому-то за чем-то, полагаться на кого-то в чем-то

Many students look to their professors for academic advice. — Многие студенты обращаются к своим преподавателям за советами по учебе.

They looked to the government for additional support. — Они обратились к правительству за дополнительной поддержкой.

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