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Glite Dictionary
listening watch

listening watch

7.6
A time when someone keeps listening on a radio for important messages
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : vigilancia de escucha
  • The radio operator kept a listening watch throughout the night in case of emergency transmissions.

Examples

  • During the mission, the crew maintained a listening watch on the designated frequency.

  • During the listening watch, we heard several unusual transmissions.

  • A listening watch ensures that important messages are not missed during silent periods.

  • The team is on a listening watch for emergency signals.

  • The radio operator kept a listening watch throughout the night in case of emergency transmissions.

  • During the mission, the crew maintained a listening watch on the designated frequency.

  • A listening watch ensures that important messages are not missed during silent periods.

Synonyms

monitoring
vslistening watch
130 3.2

Regular checking and recording of something to see how it changes

is continuous and aims to pick targeted radio transmissions rather than general checks
listening
vslistening watch
68 1.0

Paying close attention to sounds or speech

is a sustained procedural task meant to detect specific radio signals
continuous receiver watch
vslistening watch
  • Specialized
8.5

Keeping a radio on all the time to listen for important messages

is the procedural period where an operator stays tuned continuously for specific signals

How Alert

surveillance
  • Specialized
526 6.2
listening watch
  • Specialized
7.6
monitoring
130 3.2

Surface Forms

listening watch singular
listening watches plural

Morphology

listen + watch

The phrase is a straightforward compound where 'listening' (the activity of listening) modifies 'watch' (a scheduled period or duty), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a period spent listening. This follows a common English modifier + noun pattern and corresponds to similar constructions in other languages, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The term listening watch mixes listening and watch: imagine someone staying alert but using their ears on a radio to hear anything important. So, it means a period when someone keeps listening continuously for important 'messages' or 'signals'.