1. Be fully aware or cognizant of
   "He recognised the dangers of the expedition";
   - recognize, realize, realise [Brit], agnize [archaic], agnise [Brit, archaic]
    
2. Perceive to be the same
   "I recognised my old friend despite the years that had passed";
   - recognize
    
3. Accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept their power and authority
   "The Crown Prince was recognised as the true heir to the throne";
   - acknowledge, recognize, know
    
4. Detect or identify something despite difficulty or distance
   "I could barely recognise the ship through the fog";
   - spot, recognize, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out
    
5. Show approval or appreciation of
   "My work is not recognised by anybody!"; "The best student was recognised by the Dean";
   - recognize
    
6. Grant credentials to
   "The Regents officially recognised the new educational institution";
   - accredit, recognize
    
7. Express greetings upon meeting someone
   "He recognised his neighbours with a friendly wave";
   - greet, recognize
    
8. Express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for
   "We must recognise the kindness she showed towards us";
   - acknowledge, recognize
    
9. Exhibit recognition for (an antigen or a substrate)
   "The antibody recognised the specific antigen on the cell surface";
   - recognize

Derived forms: recognised, recognises, recognising

Type of: accept, accost, appreciate, bind, buttonhole [informal], call back, call up, certify, cognise [Brit], cognize, detect, discover, find, give thanks, know, licence [Brit, Cdn], license, nobble [Brit, informal], notice, observe, prize, recall, recollect, remember, retrieve, thank, think, treasure, value

Encyclopedia: Recognise