n. 1 a the faculty of perceiving. b an instance of this. 2 (often foll. by of) a the intuitive recognition of a truth, aesthetic quality, etc. b an instance of this (a sudden perception of the true position). 3 Philos. the ability of the mind to refer sensory information to an external object as its cause. perceptional adj. perceptual adj. perceptually adv.
[ ME f. L perceptio (as PERCEIVE) ]