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REFERENCE

sight

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsaɪt// UK //sˈaɪt// sight Archaic General-service Informal

n. the ability to see with your eyes. It can also mean something you see, especially something interesting or famous.

n. the faculty or power of seeing; the range or field of vision. Often used to refer to a person's visual acuity or to an object of particular interest within one's view.


SIMPLE

She lost her sight in a childhood accident.

CONTEXTUAL

The Grand Canyon is a magnificent sight that attracts millions of visitors every year.

COMPLEX

After weeks at sea with nothing but the horizon in view, the first sight of land brought a collective sense of relief to the exhausted crew.

Synonyms
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.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the sense of vision; countable when referring to a specific thing seen or a tourist attraction.

Pitfall

The Eiffel Tower is a beautiful view.The Eiffel Tower is a beautiful sight.A 'view' is what you see from a specific place (like a window), while a 'sight' is the impressive thing itself.

Idioms11 entries

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