perception

[ per-sep-shuhn ]
/ pərˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

the act or faculty of perceiving, or apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment: an artist of rare perception.
the result or product of perceiving, as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.
Psychology. a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.
Law. the taking into possession of rents, crops, profits, etc.

Origin of perception

1350–1400; Middle English percepcioun (< Old French percepcïon) < Latin perceptiōn- (stem of perceptiō) comprehension, literally, a taking in. See percept, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM perception

Example sentences from the Web for perception

British Dictionary definitions for perception

perception
/ (pəˈsɛpʃən) /

noun

the act or the effect of perceiving
insight or intuition gained by perceiving
the ability or capacity to perceive
way of perceiving; awareness or consciousness; view advertising affects the customer's perception of a product
the process by which an organism detects and interprets information from the external world by means of the sensory receptors
law the collection, receipt, or taking into possession of rents, crops, etc

Derived forms of perception

perceptional, adjective

Word Origin for perception

C15: from Latin perceptiō comprehension; see perceive

Medical definitions for perception

perception
[ pər-sĕpshən ]

n.

The process, act, or faculty of perceiving.
Recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli based chiefly on memory.