spying

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word spying. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word spying, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say spying in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word spying you have here. The definition of the word spying will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofspying, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈspaɪ.ɪŋ/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪɪŋ

Etymology 1

From spy +‎ -ing.

Verb

spying

  1. present participle and gerund of spy

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English spyinge, spiyng, spyeng, equivalent to spy +‎ -ing.

Noun

spying (countable and uncountable, plural spyings)

  1. espionage; the act of secretly gathering information
    • 1980, Amélie Rorty, Explaining Emotions, page 472:
      There are two ways in which the obsessive character of jealousy tends to exert itself: one is in the need to know, the endless tests and investigations and spyings that are so characteristic of jealousy.
Translations

Anagrams