keek

A curious child keeks around the corner of a bright blue door.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A peep or quick, furtive glance: "keek" refers to a brief, secret look at something, often from a hidden or partially concealed position.
   • A sly look: This meaning emphasizes the stealthy or cautious nature of the glance, often associated with curiosity or suspicion.

2. Verb:

   • To look quickly and secretly: "keek" means to take a brief, furtive look, especially by peeping through a small opening or from a hidden place.
   • To peep: This verb is used to describe the act of looking slyly or cautiously at something, often without being noticed.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She took a quick keek through the keyhole to see who was inside. (A brief, secret glance through a small opening.)
  • The child gave a keek at the presents under the tree before Christmas morning. (A furtive look at hidden objects.)

• Verb:

  • He keeked around the corner to see if the coast was clear. (He looked quickly and secretly around the corner.)
  • The cat keeked out from under the bed, watching the mouse. (The cat peeped out cautiously from its hiding place.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a keek": to take a quick look.

  • I had a keek at the exam paper before the teacher arrived. (I took a brief, secret look at the exam.)

• "keek in": to look inside a space or container with a quick, secretive glance.

  • He keeked in the window to see if anyone was home. (He looked quickly through the window.)

Variants and Related Words

• Keeker (n): a person who keeks; a spy or someone who peeps.

  • The keeker was caught trying to look through the fence. (The person who peeped was caught.)

• Keekhole (n): a small hole or opening used for keeking.

  • The door had a keekhole for checking visitors. (A small hole for secret viewing.)

Synonyms

• Peep: a quick or furtive look.
• Glance: a brief or hurried look.
• Sneak a look: to look secretly.
• Spy: to observe secretly.

Phrasal Verbs

• Keek out: to look out from a hidden or partially covered place.

  • The squirrel keeked out from its nest. (The squirrel looked out cautiously.)

• Keek at: to look at something quickly and secretly.

  • She keeked at the answer sheet when the teacher wasn't looking. (She glanced secretly at the sheet.)

Related Idioms

• Not a keek: no sight or glimpse of something.

  • I haven't had a keek of him all day. (I haven't seen him at all.)

• Take a keek: to have a quick look.

  • Take a keek at the new car in the driveway. (Have a quick look at the car.)