hearing

[ heer-ing ]
/ ˈhɪər ɪŋ /

noun

the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived.
the act of perceiving sound.
opportunity to be heard: to grant a hearing.
an instance or a session in which testimony and arguments are presented, especially before an official, as a judge in a lawsuit.
a preliminary examination of the basic evidence and charges by a magistrate to determine whether criminal procedures, a trial, etc., are justified.
earshot: Their conversation was beyond my hearing.

Origin of hearing

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at hear, -ing1

OTHER WORDS FROM hearing

hear·ing·less, adjective pre·hear·ing, noun un·hear·ing, adjective

Definition for hearing (2 of 2)

hear
[ heer ]
/ hɪər /

verb (used with object), heard [hurd] /hɜrd/, hear·ing.

verb (used without object), heard [hurd] /hɜrd/, hear·ing.

Origin of hear

before 950; Middle English heren, Old English hēran, hīeran; cognate with Dutch horen, German hören, Old Norse heyra, Gothic hausjan; perhaps akin to Greek akoúein (see acoustic)

SYNONYMS FOR hear

1, 2 attend. Hear, listen apply to the perception of sound. To hear is to have such perception by means of the auditory sense: to hear distant bells. To listen is to give attention in order to hear and understand the meaning of a sound or sounds: to listen to what is being said; to listen for a well-known footstep.
4 attend.
7 regard, heed.

OTHER WORDS FROM hear

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hear

hear here heard herd

Example sentences from the Web for hearing

British Dictionary definitions for hearing (1 of 2)

hearing
/ (ˈhɪərɪŋ) /

noun

the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived Related adjective: audio
an opportunity to be listened to
the range within which sound can be heard; earshot
the investigation of a matter by a court of law, esp the preliminary inquiry into an indictable crime by magistrates
a formal or official trial of an action or lawsuit

British Dictionary definitions for hearing (2 of 2)

hear
/ (hɪə) /

verb hears, hearing or heard (hɜːd)

Derived forms of hear

hearable, adjective hearer, noun

Word Origin for hear

Old English hieran; related to Old Norse heyra, Gothic hausjan, Old High German hōren, Greek akouein

Medical definitions for hearing (1 of 2)

hearing
[ hîrĭng ]

n.

The sense by which sound is perceived; the capacity to hear.

Medical definitions for hearing (2 of 2)

hear
[ hîr ]

v.

To perceive (sound) by the ear.

Idioms and Phrases with hearing

hear