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sight

n. · v.
US //ˈsaɪt// UK //sˈaɪt// sight
  1. 1 ability to see (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    the physical ability to see with your eyes.

    the physiological faculty or power of seeing; vision.

    Example

    He lost his sight in a childhood accident but learned to navigate the city well.

    Example

    Regular check-ups are essential to preserve your sight as you age, especially if you have a family history of glaucoma.
  2. 2 the act of seeing (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the moment or act of seeing something or someone.

    the act or fact of seeing; visual perception or a view of something.

    Example

    The first sight of the ocean after the long drive made the children cheer.

    Example

    The sight of the rescue helicopters brought a wave of relief to the hikers stranded on the ridge.
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  1. 3 tourist attraction (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a famous or interesting place that people visit.

    something worth seeing; a spectacle or a place of interest, often used in the plural for tourism.

    Example

    We spent the whole weekend visiting the sights of London.

    Example

    The city offers many historical sights, ranging from medieval cathedrals to modern architectural marvels.
  2. 4 aiming device (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical

    a small part on a gun or camera that helps you aim at a target.

    a device used to assist in aiming a projectile or instrument by aligning the eye with a target.

    Example

    He looked through the sight of the camera to frame the perfect shot.

    Example

    The marksman adjusted the telescopic sight to account for the crosswind before taking the shot.
  3. 5 intensifier (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Dialect

    used to mean 'a lot' or 'much' when comparing two things.

    used as an intensifier with comparative adjectives or adverbs to indicate a large degree.

    Example

    This new phone is a sight better than my old one.

    Example

    The second draft of the manuscript was a sight more coherent than the initial jumble of notes.

    Usage

    Usually appears in the phrase 'a damn sight' or 'a sight better'.
  4. 6 to spot or see (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to see something suddenly, especially from a distance.

    to manage to see or catch sight of something, often after searching.

    Example

    The sailors finally sighted land after three weeks at sea.

    Example

    The birdwatchers were thrilled to have sighted a rare golden eagle nesting in the high crags.
Origin

From Middle English siȝht, siȝt, siht, from Old English siht, sihþ (“something seen; vision”), from Proto-West Germanic *sihti, equivalent to see + -t. Cognate with Scots sicht, Saterland Frisian Sicht, West Frisian sicht, Dutch zicht, German Low German Sicht, German Sicht, Danish sigte, Swedish sikte.

Word family
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