monitor

¹mon·i·tor

noun \ˈmä-nə-tər\

Definition of MONITOR

1

a : a student appointed to assist a teacher

b : one that warns or instructs

c : one that monitors or is used in monitoring: as (1) : a cathode-ray tube used for display (as of television pictures or computer information) (2) : a device for observing a biological condition or function

2

: monitor lizard

3

[Monitor, first ship of the type]

a : a heavily armored warship formerly used in coastal operations having a very low freeboard and one or more revolving gun turrets

b : a small modern warship with shallow draft for coastal bombardment

4

: a raised central portion of a roof having low windows or louvers for providing light and air

— mon·i·to·ri·al \ˌmä-nə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl\ adjective

— mon·i·tor·ship \ˈmä-nə-tər-ˌship\ noun

Examples of MONITOR

1. They watched the press conference on a video monitor in a back room.
2. We put a baby monitor in the nursery.
3. U.N. weapons monitors and inspectors.

Origin of MONITOR

Latin, one that warns, overseer, from monēre to warn — more at mind

First Known Use: 1546

Other Computer-Related Terms

adware, flash, kludge, phishing, recursive, router

²monitor

transitive verb

mon·i·toredmon·i·tor·ing \ˈmä-nə-t(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of MONITOR

: to watch, keep track of, or check usually for a special purpose

Examples of MONITOR

1. Nurses constantly monitored the patient's heart rate.
2. We're in a good position to monitor and respond to customer concerns.
3. Government agents have been monitoring the enemy's radio communications.

First Known Use of MONITOR

1924

Related to MONITOR

Synonyms

cover, watch, keep an eye on

Related Words

surveil; eye; behold, espy, look, note, notice, observe, regard, see, sight, spy, view, witness; gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, peer, rubberneck, stare; glance, glimpse, peek, peep