1. The process of recognizing something or someone by remembering
   "experimental psychologists measure the elapsed time from the onset of the stimulus to its recognition by the observer"; "a politician whose recall of names was as remarkable as his recognition of faces";
   - identification
    
2. The state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
   "the partners were delighted with the recognition of their work"; "she seems to avoid much in the way of recognition or acknowledgement of feminist work prior to her own";
   - acknowledgment, acknowledgement
    
3. Acknowledgement, praise or respect for something, e.g. having a quality, producing something, doing something, etc.
   "give her recognition for trying";
   - credit
    
4. Coming to understand something clearly and distinctly
   "a sudden recognition of the problem he faced"; "increasing recognition that diabetes frequently coexists with other chronic diseases";
   - realization, realisation [Brit]
    
5. An acceptance (as of a claim) as true and valid
   "the recognition of the Rio Grande as a boundary between Mexico and the United States"
    
6. The explicit and formal acknowledgement of a government or of the national independence of a country
   "territorial disputes were resolved in Guatemala's recognition of Belize in 1991"
    
7. Designation by the chair granting a person the right to speak in a deliberative body
   "he was unable to make his motion because he couldn't get recognition by the chairman"
    
8. (biology) the ability of one molecule to attach to another molecule that has a complementary shape
   "molecular recognition drives all of biology, for instance, hormone and receptor or antibody-antigen interactions or the organization of molecules into larger biologically active entities"

Derived forms: recognitions

See also: acknowledged, unacknowledged

Type of: acceptance, appointment, apprehension, approval, assignment, commendation, credence, designation, diplomacy, diplomatic negotiations, discernment, memory, naming, organic phenomenon, remembering, savvy, understanding

Encyclopedia: Recognition