Eavesdrop

Definition of eavesdrop in English:

eavesdrop
Pronunciation /ˈēvzˌdräp/ /ˈivzˌdrɑp/
intransitive verbeavesdrops, eavesdropping, eavesdropped
[no object]

Secretly listen to a conversation.
‘she opened the window just enough to eavesdrop on the conversation outside’

Origin

Early 17th century back-formation from eavesdropper(late Middle English)‘a person who listens from under the eaves’, from the obsolete noun eavesdrop ‘the ground on to which water drips from the eaves’, probably from Old Norse upsardropi, from ups ‘eaves’ + dropi ‘a drop’.
Pronunciation
eavesdrop/ˈēvzˌdräp/ /ˈivzˌdrɑp/