watch
wɑːtʃ
Not taking your eyes off it - that is the whole word
The picture The eyes fasten onto one thing and follow every change in it without letting go. WATCH is eyes fastened on, following change; SEE is what simply arrives in your eyes.
Where the picture shows up in watch
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keep an eye on it
Watch the pot for me, please.
wɑːtʃ ðə pɑːt fɔːr miː pliːz
Keep an eye on the pot for me.
Eyes fixed on the rim of a boiling pot, waiting for the second before it spills
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look at a screen
We watched a movie last night.
wiː wɑːtʃt ə ˈmuːvi læst naɪt
We saw a film last night.
A dark room where two pairs of eyes move only with the one bright screen
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mind it for someone
Can you watch my bag for a minute?
kæn juː wɑːtʃ maɪ bæɡ fɔːr ə ˈmɪnɪt
Could you mind my bag a moment?
Eyes set on a stranger's left bag while scanning everyone who passes it
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mind where you step
Watch your step on the stairs.
wɑːtʃ jɔːr step ɑːn ðə sterz
Mind your footing on the stairs.
Eyes go to the edge of each step first and the foot follows down one stair at a time
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look out in advance
Watch out for the dog.
wɑːtʃ aʊt fɔːr ðə dɔːɡ
Look out for the dog.
Eyes are sent ahead around the corner to check where the dog might be standing
All of it in one picture
Watch is one picture: eyes stuck on a thing and not coming off. Eyes fastened on a boiling pot is watching the pot; eyes fastened on a screen is watching a film. Eyes fastened on someone else's bag is watching it for them, and eyes fastened on your own feet is watching your step. Eyes sent ahead to the corner where a dog might be is watch out.