observe

Definition

To observe means to pay attention to something carefully and take notice of what you see. When you observe something, you use your senses to gather information. You might see, hear, smell, taste, or touch something. You might also use tools to help you observe, such as a microscope or telescope.

Observing is an important part of science. Scientists use observation to gather data about the world around them. They then use this data to make inferences and conclusions about the world.

Here are some examples of observations that scientists might make:

A scientist might observe a bird building a nest.
A scientist might observe a plant growing.
A scientist might observe a chemical reaction taking place.

How can the word be used?

In science, observe is often used to describe the process of gathering data.

Different forms of the word

Verb: To watch or pay attention to something carefully.

Noun: The act of observing something.

Etymology

The word "observe" comes from the Latin word "observare," which means "to watch over" or "to guard." The Latin word "observare" is also the source of the French word "observer" and the Spanish word "observar.".

The word "observe" was first used in English in the 14th century. It was used to refer to the act of watching or paying attention to something carefully.

Question

When is it helpful to observe?