wiretap
/ˈwaɪə.tæp/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈaɪɚtˌæp] /ˈwaɪr.tæp/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈaɪɚtˌæp] /ˈwī(-ə)r-ˌtap How to pronounce wiretap (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈwaɪətæp/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈaɪɚtˌæp] /ˈwaɪərtæp/ (ame, ipa)
wiretap — verb
- wiretappresent simple I / you / we / they
- wiretaps3rd person singular
- wiretaping-ing form
- wiretapedpast simple
1. to hide a listening device on a telephone or phone line so that you can secretly
to hide a listening device on a telephone or phone line so that you can secretly hear what other people say during their conversations.
The detective received a warrant to wiretap the suspect's home telephone.
warrant to wiretap [someone's phone] — legal authorization pattern
In many countries, police officers must get a court order before they wiretap anyone's calls.
Keiko felt uneasy knowing that someone might be wiretapping her office line.
A hidden device in the lobby was used to wiretap conversations between diplomats and their guests.
Fatima's lawyer argued in court that detectives had illegally wiretapped her prison telephone.
文法句型
wiretap + noun phrase (phone / line / call / conversation)
用法筆記
Frequently appears in legal and investigative contexts. The passive form (e.g., 'the line was being wiretapped') is common when the focus is on the person whose phone is monitored.
常見錯誤
wiretap — noun
- wiretapsingular
- wiretapsplural
1. a small electronic device that is fixed secretly to a telephone or telephone lin
a small electronic device that is fixed secretly to a telephone or telephone line so that conversations can be heard without the speakers' knowledge.
The technicians found a wiretap hidden inside the wall near the phone jack.
found a wiretap hidden [somewhere] — passive participle after noun
Diego inspected the telephone box and discovered a small wiretap attached to the cable.
Modern wiretaps are so tiny that they can be installed inside the handset itself.
The embassy sweep detected a wiretap in the ambassador's private study.
- bug
can refer to any hidden listening device, not only on phone lines
- listening device
more formal and general term for any concealed microphone
用法筆記
Countable noun — a wiretap / two wiretaps. Frequently used with verbs like plant, install, discover, remove.
常見錯誤
2. the practice of placing a hidden device on a phone line to secretly hear what pe
the practice of placing a hidden device on a phone line to secretly hear what people discuss during their calls.
A wiretap without a court order violates privacy laws in most democratic countries.
a wiretap + without [legal condition] — countable noun pattern
The newspaper reported that the government had authorized more wiretaps on international calls.
Ananya thinks the new law limits police wiretaps on civilian phone lines.
The committee is investigating how many wiretaps were placed during the election campaign.
- phone tapping
more informal term, common in British English
- surveillance
broader term — includes any form of secret observation, not just audio
用法筆記
Countable noun — a wiretap / two wiretaps. Often collocates with authorize, conduct, place, investigate. Commonly appears in news reports about surveillance and privacy.