Definition of: sight

(sīt) noun
1. The faculty, act, or fact of seeing; vision.
2. That which is seen; a view; spectacle; show; as used absolutely, something remarkable and strange.
3. plural Things worth seeing: the sights of the town.
4. The range or scope of vision; limit of eyesight.
5. A point of view; estimation.
6. Insight; opportunity for investigation or study.
7. A device to assist aim, as on a gun, leveling instrument, etc.
8. An aim or observation taken with a telescope or other sighting instrument.
9. A view; glimpse.
10. The part of a drawing or painting within the marginal lines or the frame.
11. Colloq. A great quantity or number: a sight of people.
—at (or on) sight
1. As soon as seen: to read or shoot at sight.
2. On presentation for payment: said of drafts, bills, and notes.
—battle sight The position of the rear sight on a rifle in which the leaf is laid down.
—bore sight An auxiliary sighting device with parts attached to the muzzle and breech of a gun, used to secure alinement of the axis of the bore with the axis of the gun sight.
—leaf sight A rear sight for small arms, containing a movable peep sight and hinged to permit raising and lowering.
—peep sight A sight attached to the breech end of a firearm, and provided with a small hole in the center for close aiming.
—v.t.
1. To perceive with the eyes; see: to sight a whale.
2. To take a sight of; observe; look at through a telescope or similar instrument.
3. To furnish with sights, or adjust the sights of, as a gun.
4. To give the proper aim or elevation to, as a gun; take aim with.
5. Colloq. To bring to notice; present, as a bill to its drawee.
—v.i.
6. To take aim.
7. To make an observation or sight.
—adjective
1. Understood or performed on sight without previous familiarity or preparation.
2. Payable when presented: a sight draft. ♦ Homophones: cite, site. [OE gesiht]