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
   "The custody hearing lasted for three days"
    
3. The range within which a voice can be heard
   "The children were told to stay within hearing of their parents";
   - earshot, earreach
    
4. The act of hearing attentively
   "they make good music — you should give them a hearing";
   - listening
    
5. 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"
    
6. An opportunity to state your case and be heard
   "they condemned him without a hearing";
   - audience

1. Able to perceive sound
   "Despite his advanced age, he remained hearing without the need for aids"

1. Perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
   "I could hear music playing in the distance"
    
2. Receive a communication from someone
   "We heard nothing from our son for five years"
    
3. 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 [informal], discover, see
    
4. Examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process
   "The jury had heard all the evidence";
   - try
    
5. Take careful note; follow advice
   "We must hear the expert before we make a decision";
   - listen, take heed

Derived forms: hearings

See also: quick-eared, sharp-eared

Type of: act, center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], chance, comprehend, concentrate, examine, exteroception, focus, legal proceeding, modality, move, 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