LISTEN


Meaning of LISTEN in English

— listener , n.

/lis"euhn/ , v.i.

1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.

2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often fol. by to ): Children don't always listen to their parents.

3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually fol. by for ): to listen for sounds of their return.

4. Informal. to convey a particular impression to the hearer; sound: The new recording doesn't listen as well as the old one.

v.t.

5. Archaic. to give ear to; hear.

6. listen in ,

a. to listen to a radio or television broadcast: Listen in tomorrow for the names of the lottery winners.

b. to overhear a conversation or communication, esp. by telephone; eavesdrop: Someone was listening in to his private calls.

[ bef. 950; ME lis ( t ) nen, OE hlysnan; c. MHG lüsenen, Sw lyssna; akin to LIST 5 ]

Syn. 1. See hear .

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .