n.
 (pl. spies)
  - a person employed by a government or other organization to collect and report secret information on an enemy or competitor.
- a person who observes others secretly.
v.
 (spies, spying, spied)
  - be a spy. ▸
(spy on)
 observe furtively. 
- observe or notice.
Phrase
  
    
      - spy out the land
 collect information about a situation before deciding how to act.
 
  Etymology
  ME: shortening of OFr. espie ‘espying’, espier ‘espy’, of Gmc origin.