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gaze

[geyz]
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verb (used without object), gazed, gaz·ing.
  1. to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure, or wonder.
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noun
  1. a steady or intent look.
  2. at gaze, Heraldry. (of a deer or deerlike animal) represented as seen from the side with the head looking toward the spectator: a stag at gaze.
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Origin of gaze

1350–1400; Middle English gasen; compare Norwegian, Swedish (dial.) gasa to look
Related formsgaze·less, adjectivegaz·er, noungaz·ing·ly, adverbout·gaze, verb (used with object), out·gazed, out·gaz·ing.un·gaz·ing, adjective

Synonyms

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1. Gaze, stare, gape suggest looking fixedly at something. To gaze is to look steadily and intently at something, especially at that which excites admiration, curiosity, or interest: to gaze at scenery, at a scientific experiment. To stare is to gaze with eyes wide open, as from surprise, wonder, alarm, stupidity, or impertinence: to stare unbelievingly or rudely. Gape is a word with uncomplimentary connotations; it suggests open-mouthed, often ignorant or rustic wonderment or curiosity: to gape at a tall building or a circus parade.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gazer

Historical Examples

  • Around Acre, the country was fertile and fair to the eye of the gazer.

    The Boy Crusaders

    John G. Edgar

  • Each fortune's connate with the gazer's star, And tinted as she dreams.

  • It was with an instinct of warm friendliness that the gazer turned from the bedside.

    The Tree of Knowledge

    Mrs. Baillie Reynolds

  • The gazer turned from the words, with quick question, to the mound.

    Satan Sanderson

    Hallie Erminie Rives

  • Otherwise she may prove to be the gazee instead of the gazer.

    A Residence in France

    J. Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for gazer

gaze

verb
  1. (intr) to look long and fixedly, esp in wonder or admiration
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noun
  1. a fixed look; stare
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Derived Formsgazer, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Swedish dialect gasa to gape at
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for gazer

gaze

v.

late 14c., probably of Scandinavian origin (cf. Norwegian, Swedish dialectal gasa "to gape"), perhaps related somehow to Old Norse ga "heed" (see gawk). Related: Gazed; gazing.

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gaze

n.

1540s, "thing stared at;" 1560s as "long look," from gaze (v.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
gazer in Medicine

gaze

(gāz)
n.
  1. The act of looking steadily in one direction for a period of time.
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Related formsgaze v.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.