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surveillance

surveillance, monitoring

noun sür-vay-YAHNS Less Common

Also means

supervision

Usage Note

Surveillance is used in both security contexts (caméra de surveillance) and supervisory ones (sous surveillance médicale = under medical supervision). The verb is surveiller ('to watch, to monitor'). English borrowed the word directly from French in the 18th century.

Examples

"Des caméras de surveillance couvrent la zone."

Natural Translation

Surveillance cameras cover the area.

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