hear: Meaning and Definition of

hear

Pronunciation: (hēr), [key]
— v., heard hear•ing.
—v.t.
  1. to perceive by the ear: Didn't you hear the doorbell?
  2. to learn by the ear or by being told; be informed of: to hear news.
  3. to listen to; give or pay attention to: They refused to hear our side of the argument.
  4. to be among the audience at or of (something): to hear a recital.
  5. to give a formal, official, or judicial hearing to (something); consider officially, as a judge, sovereign, teacher, or assembly: to hear a case.
  6. to take or listen to the evidence or testimony of (someone): to hear the defendant.
  7. to listen to with favor, assent, or compliance.
  8. (of a computer) to perceive by speech recognition.
—v.i.
  1. to be capable of perceiving sound by the ear; have the faculty of perceiving sound vibrations.
  2. to receive information by the ear or otherwise: to hear from a friend.
  3. to listen with favor, assent, or compliance (often fol. by of&hasp;): I will not hear of your going.
  4. (of a computer) to be capable of perceiving by speech recognition.
  5. (used interjectionally in the phrase Hear! Hear! to express approval, as of a speech).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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