eavesdrop

English

WOTD – 14 August 2009

Etymology

eaves +‎ drop, i.e. listening at the eaves of a building.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈiːvzˌdɹɒp/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈivzˌdɹɑp/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Verb

eavesdrop (third-person singular simple present eavesdrops, present participle eavesdropping, simple past and past participle eavesdropped)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in.
    I hope nobody was eavesdropping on our conversation last night, since it got so personal.

Usage notes

To eavesdrop usually implies the listener is purposefully trying to hear the conversation of others. To overhear is more often accidental.

Synonyms

  • (hear conversation one is not intended to hear): overhear

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

eavesdrop (plural eavesdrops)

  1. The dripping of rain from the eaves of a house
  2. The space around a house on which such water drips
  3. A concealed aperture through which an occupant of a building can surreptitiously listen to people talking at an entrance to the building
  4. The act of intentionally hearing a conversation not intended to be heard

Synonyms

Translations

Anagrams

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