I. ˈlis ə n verb
( listened ; listened ; listening -s( ə )niŋ ; listens )
Etymology: Middle English listnen, alteration (influenced by listen to listen, from Old English hlystan, from hlyst hearing) of Old English hlysnan; akin to Old High German lūstrēn to listen, Old Norse hlust hearing, ear, Old Irish cluas ear, Sanskrit śroṣati he hears, Old English hlūd loud — more at loud
transitive verb
archaic : to give ear to : hear
lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say — Shakespeare
intransitive verb
1. : to pay attention to sound : perceive with the ear
stood erect and quiet as if listening — O.E.Rölvaag
partial heart block may be determined by listening with the stethoscope — H.G.Armstrong
he'd listen nervously to the gunfire — Ira Wolfert
liked to follow him about and talk with him or listen to him ask … devastating questions of their elders — Irwin Edman
— often used in imperative
listen to this from a great philosopher — Brand Blanshard
— used dialect with at
listen at that mother bird — J.H.Stuart
got a radio … we could listen at — Vereen Bell
2. : to hear with thoughtful attention : consider seriously : heed
have heard but not listened — R.L.Shayon
frame an issue to which voters would listen — F.L.Paxson
had not the slightest intention of listening to the grievances of the colonies — H.E.Scudder
3. : to be alert to catch an expected sound — usually used with for
listened for his step in the hall
4. slang : to make an impression on a listener : sound
it doesn't listen right — Mark Reed
it listens to me as though the wise guys had been giving him a tip to lay off — New Republic
why do some bands listen better than others — Musical Enterprise
II. noun
( -s )
: an act of listening
listened, and with each listen the game grew clearer — Rudyard Kipling