surveillance
[ ser-vey-luh ns, -veyl-yuh ns ]
/ sərˈveɪ ləns, -ˈveɪl yəns /
noun
a watch kept over a person, group, etc., especially over a suspect, prisoner, or the like: The suspects were under police surveillance.
continuous observation of a place, person, group, or ongoing activity in order to gather information: video cameras used for covert surveillance.See also electronic surveillance.
attentive observation, as to oversee and direct someone or something: increased surveillance of patients with chronic liver disease.
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Origin of surveillance
OTHER WORDS FROM surveillance
coun·ter·sur·veil·lance, nounWords nearby surveillance
surtout, surtsey, suruga bay, surv., surveil, surveillance, surveillance society, surveillant, survey, survey course, survey.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for surveillance
British Dictionary definitions for surveillance
surveillance
/ (sɜːˈveɪləns) /
noun
close observation or supervision maintained over a person, group, etc, esp one in custody or under suspicion
Derived forms of surveillance
surveillant, adjective, nounWord Origin for surveillance
C19: from French, from surveiller to watch over, from sur- 1 + veiller to keep watch (from Latin vigilāre; see vigil)
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
Medical definitions for surveillance
surveillance
[ sər-vā′ləns ]
n.
Close observation of a person or group, especially one under suspicion.
The act of observing or the condition of being observed.
The collection, collation, analysis, and dissemination of data.
A type of observational study that involves continuous monitoring of disease occurrence within a population.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.