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1. The ability to hear; the auditory faculty
   "his hearing was impaired"; "his sense of hearing was impaired";
   - audition, auditory sense, sense of hearing, auditory modality
    
2. (law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
    
3. The range within which a voice can be heard
   - earshot, earreach
    
4. An opportunity to state your case and be heard
   "they condemned him without a hearing";
   - audience
    
5. The act of hearing attentively
   "they make good music--you should give them a hearing";
   - listening
    
6. A session (of a committee or grand jury) in which witnesses are called and testimony is taken
   "the investigative committee will hold hearings in Chicago"

1. Able to perceive sound

1. Perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
    
2. Get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
   "I heard that she has two grown-up children";
   - learn, get word, get wind, pick up, find out, get a line, discover, see
    
3. Examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process
   "The jury had heard all the evidence";
   - try
    
4. Receive a communication from someone
   "We heard nothing from our son for five years"
    
5. Take careful note; follow advice
   "We must hear the expert before we make a decision";
   - listen, take heed

Derived forms: hearings

See also: pick, quick-eared, sharp-eared

Type of: center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], chance, comprehend, concentrate, examine, exteroception, focus, legal proceeding, modality, opportunity, perceive, perception, pick up, pore, pore over, probe, proceeding, proceedings, range, reach, receive, rivet, sense modality, sensing, sensory system, sesh [informal], session

Antonym: deaf

Encyclopedia: Hearing, Balance and Communication