0 to secretly listen to people by connecting a listening device to their telephone, or to attach a listening device to a telephone for this purpose:
The police chief was accused of illegally wiretapping politicians, government officials, and journalists.
We have laws to protect us from people wiretapping our phones.
1 a device secretly attached to a telephone for listening to people's telephone conversations:
The government put a wiretap on his phone.
Legally placing a bug or wiretap is a complicated process for federal authorities.
2 to secretly listen to people by connecting a listening device to their telephone, or to attach a listening device to a telephone for this purpose:
Federal authorities were secretly wiretapping his phone.
The court gave permission to have his phone wiretapped to gather evidence.
The FBI applied for authorization to install a wiretap on his business phones.
Wiretaps recorded the defendants discussing Client 9 between Feb. 11 and Feb. 14.
The raids were conducted after telephone wiretaps picked up conversations in which some of the men expressed a willingness to commit suicide attacks.
Agents acquired wiretaps and began following him, but there was no evidence he had any criminal aspirations.
The burglars sought to place wiretaps and planned to photograph documents.
