Today's vocabulary deals with some common words and phrases relating to the way we see and their differences in meaning:
1. to glance at
= to have a short, quick look
As she was in a hurry, she just glanced at the newspaper before going to work.
2. to stare at
= to look at in a very fixed and open way
It's bad manners to stare at people.
3. to catch a glimpse of
= to have a short, indistinct look, especially of something moving
Fans were waiting at the airport hoping to catch a glimpse of Beyonce and her new boyfriend.
4. to peer through
= to look carefully, especially in the dark
As the light was off, I peered through the room trying to see the switch.
5. to peep through
= to look secretely
The thief hid behind the bushes and peeped through the window.
6. to wink
= to close or open one eye
She winked at me to call my attention to the teacher entering the classroom.
7. to scan
= to look attentively
The shipwrecked sailor scanned the horizon to see if a ship was coming to his rescue.
8. to blink
= (i) make an effort to see by opening and closing the eyes quickly
He had forgotten his glasses, so he kept blinking his eyes all the time.
= (ii) for lights: go on and off unsteadily
The lights of the ship were blinking in the horizon.
The light on your answering machine is blinking.
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