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Look for   /lʊk fɔr/   Listen
verb
Look  v. i.  (past & past part. looked; pres. part. looking)  
1.
To direct the eyes for the purpose of seeing something; to direct the eyes toward an object; to observe with the eyes while keeping them directed; with various prepositions, often in a special or figurative sense. See Phrases below.
2.
To direct the attention (to something); to consider; to examine; as, to look at an action.
3.
To seem; to appear; to have a particular appearance; as, the patient looks better; the clouds look rainy. "It would look more like vanity than gratitude." "Observe how such a practice looks in another person."
4.
To have a particular direction or situation; to face; to front. "The inner gate that looketh to north." "The east gate... which looketh eastward."
5.
In the imperative: see; behold; take notice; take care; observe; used to call attention. "Look, how much we thus expel of sin, so much we expel of virtue." Note: Look, in the imperative, may be followed by a dependent sentence, but see is oftener so used. "Look that ye bind them fast." "Look if it be my daughter."
6.
To show one's self in looking, as by leaning out of a window; as, look out of the window while I speak to you. Sometimes used figuratively. "My toes look through the overleather."
7.
To await the appearance of anything; to expect; to anticipate. "Looking each hour into death's mouth to fall."
To look about, to look on all sides, or in different directions.
To look about one, to be on the watch; to be vigilant; to be circumspect or guarded.
To look after.
(a)
To attend to; to take care of; as, to look after children.
(b)
To expect; to be in a state of expectation. "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth."
(c)
To seek; to search. "My subject does not oblige me to look after the water, or point forth the place where to it is now retreated."
To look at, to direct the eyes toward so that one sees, or as if to see; as, to look at a star; hence, to observe, examine, consider; as, to look at a matter without prejudice.
To look black, to frown; to scowl; to have a threatening appearance. "The bishops thereat repined, and looked black."
To look down on or To look down upon, to treat with indifference or contempt; to regard as an inferior; to despise.
To look for.
(a)
To expect; as, to look for news by the arrival of a ship. "Look now for no enchanting voice."
(b)
To seek for; to search for; as, to look for lost money, or lost cattle.
To look forth.
(a)
To look out of something, as from a window.
(b)
To threaten to come out.
To look forward to. To anticipate with an expectation of pleasure; to be eager for; as, I am looking forward to your visit.
To look into, to inspect closely; to observe narrowly; to examine; as, to look into the works of nature; to look into one's conduct or affairs.
To look on.
(a)
To regard; to esteem. "Her friends would look on her the worse."
(b)
To consider; to view; to conceive of; to think of. "I looked on Virgil as a succinct, majestic writer."
(c)
To be a mere spectator. "I'll be a candleholder, and look on."
To look out, to be on the watch; to be careful; as, the seaman looks out for breakers.
To look through.
(a)
To see through.
(b)
To search; to examine with the eyes.
To look to or To look unto.
(a)
To watch; to take care of. "Look well to thy herds."
(b)
To resort to with expectation of receiving something; to expect to receive from; as, the creditor may look to surety for payment. "Look unto me, and be ye saved."
To look up, to search for or find out by looking; as, to look up the items of an account.
To look up to, to respect; to regard with deference.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Look for" Quotes from Famous Books



... had fallen within a yard of me, with its beak and claws pointing to the sky, and when the line had passed where we lay Tom lagged behind to look for it. He did not find it then, whether he ever found it afterwards I am sure I don't know. But he ...
— The Mahatma and the Hare • H. Rider Haggard

... the chain, was a political acrobat, ready for any kind of posture. A friend of mine gave me several times an account of a mission to him. A Tory member—those who know the old Tory world may look for his initials in initials of two consecutive words of "Pay his money with interest"—who was, of course, a political opponent, thought Cobbett had been hardly used, and determined to subscribe handsomely towards the expenses he was incurring as a candidate. My ...
— A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume I (of II) • Augustus De Morgan

... be much believed, And most pernicious purpose!—Seeming, seeming!— 150 I will proclaim thee, Angelo; look for't: Sign me a present pardon for my brother, Or with an outstretch'd throat I'll tell the world aloud What man ...
— Measure for Measure - The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] • William Shakespeare

... hill-passes: seeking their way with lanterns after nightfall; through perils, and Cobourg Austrians, and suspicious French Nationals; finally, into Switzerland; safe though nigh moneyless. (Genlis, iv. 139.) The brave young Egalite has a most wild Morrow to look for; but now only himself to ...
— The French Revolution • Thomas Carlyle

... to what particular department of astronomical investigation we look for traces of advancement during the past hundred years, for it is evident throughout them all, and sufficiently proves that the interest formerly taken in the science has not only been well sustained but has become more general ...
— Scientific American Supplement, No. 303 - October 22, 1881 • Various


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